The countdown is well and truly on for one of the biggest days in popular sportsman Chris Brace’s life.
Forty-six-year-old Chris is taking part in his second Ironman Wales as his final event in his challenge to raise funds for Bloodwise.
Chris set-up his fundraising appeal after his best friend, fellow sportsman Simon Rossiter, was diagnosed in May with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer.
Chris and Simon had planned to take part in the Cotswolds middle distance triathlon, Long Course Weekend and Ironman Wales, but when Simon was taken ill with cancer and he had to pull out, Chris vowed to continue and raise funds for the Bloodwise charity, which supports Simon’s type of cancer.
.jpeg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
“The inspiration for me to look forward, embrace and complete it comes from the amazing generosity of the public, with my JustGiving page reaching a total of £9,349.51 so far for the Bloodwise charity,” said Chris.
“Simon is a very positive person and in his words ‘having never knowingly left a party early, I have no intention in leaving this one either.’
“This made my choice of which charity to raise money for this year very easy indeed and thus I have chosen Bloodwise. With the very kind support, donations of the public and Simon’s great positive attitude, he and many others will beat cancer and the money we all raise as a community will help in finding a cure one day for this awful disease.”
Added Chris: “Considering the initial target on day one was £1,000, we smashed that in 24 hours, and it is really amazing and humbling to have raised over £9,000 in such a short period of time. The support of the whole community has been fantastic.”
Chris, who will be wearing number 1577, is joined by a group of friends and family in the fundraising efforts who have also taken part in the sporting events, including Simon’s wife Debbie, who will also be competing in Ironman Wales on Sunday wearing number 470.
A number of local businesses have also pledged their support to the charity and will be supporting Chris and the Bloodwise charity on Sunday wearing t-shirts, flying flags and fundraising too.
If you would like to know more about Chris’s fundraising efforts for the Bloodwise charity or to sponsor him for this Sunday’s Ironman Wales event, please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Chris-Brace1 or you can text a donation to 70070 using the code NIFF90, including the amount you want to donate from £1 upwards.