The
Cardiomyopathy
Association

CMA supporter Dave Marshall has completed a 140 mile Ironman event in memory of two young friends who died from cardiomyopathy.

Dave, a 29-year-old banker from Gillingham in Kent, took part in the Ironman UK 2010 event in Bolton on Sunday and has raised more than £3,000 for the CMA.

He biked 112 miles, ran a full marathon (26.2 miles) and swam 2.4 miles in memory of his friends Tom Side, who died aged 22, eight months ago and his sister Laura, who died aged 16 in 1996. 

Dave (pictured with his Ironman medal) had to do the exhaustive challenge in under 17 hours and managed to complete it in almost exactly 14 hours.  Dave, who previously had only completed a short triathlon, trained for six months. He said: “I’m very happy. I was hoping that by taking on an event of this magnitude the Cardiomyopathy Association would be well rewarded, and I’m very grateful to everyone who has supported me.

“The swim was really tough - brutal to be honest.  There were so many people in the water battling for position it felt like I was being thrown around in a washing machine.  That discipline took me 1h 22mins.”

He added: “Despite having trained really hard for the bike ride, I still found it to be the toughest thing I have ever done - I felt every mile.   At 90 miles my bike developed problems, and for a time I thought I would have to give up. But miraculously it started working again and seeing all my family and friends and Tom and Laura’s family at the bike finish was such a lift that even with a marathon to run I just knew that I was going to get through it.

“The run seemed fairly comfortable as I knew this was all about me just keeping going - no danger of mechanical failure or being drowned now.  As I turned into the final straight, I thought about all the work I'd put in and why I was there – it was quite over whelming.  I crossed the line in 14hrs 1min and 22secs.”

Dave, who spent the next day in bed recovering, said:  “It means a lot to be able to do something in memory of my two friends and the money raised will help others with this condition.  I have no doubt I will be looking for another event soon for the charity.”
                                                                                         
To sponsor Dave, go to http://www.justgiving.com/DaveMarshall-IronmanUK2010

Pictured left (from left) Dave’s best friend James Justice, Lindsay Side (Tom and Laura’s sister), Dave’s dad Steve Marshall, Dave’s wife Kim, Dave, Sue Side (Laura and Tom’s mum), Dave’s mum Lesley Marshall, and Sophie Higginson (Tom’s fiancée)

For more information about taking part in runs or challenges for the CMA, email Robert Hall