A site manager for Barratt David Wilson Homes South Wales, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer a few years ago, will mark his return to Ironman this September in aid of Wales Air Ambulance.
36-year-old Kurt Patterson from Tonypandy will be teaming up with his colleague Ian Kelland, who is a Quantity Surveyor.
The residential property development company has chosen the lifesaving service as its Charity of the Year with several events planned over the next few months.
Kurt said: “The air ambulance team came into our office and did a talk last year, and mentioned the affiliation with Ironman.
“It piqued my interest, as I had three to four years off due to getting a bowel cancer diagnosis back in 2022.
“I did not realise that a charity funded the service, and it could not do the work it does without donations.
“I made the decision straight away that my first Ironman since my diagnosis, would be for the Wales Air Ambulance.”
It is a big moment for Ian too, the 29-year-old from Pontyclun has never done an Ironman before.
He said: “We have a caravan in Tenby, and I was there last year for the weekend and saw how amazing the atmosphere was.
“There were hundreds of people lining the streets, music was blasting, it was brilliant seeing everyone cheering the competitors on and it got me thinking, ‘I’d like to do this.’
“This is a first for me, so I’m looking forward to taking on this massive personal challenge and hopefully helping raise lots of money for the Charity.”
The Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.
It is delivered via a unique third sector and public sector partnership. The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £11.2 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.
This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
Kurt and Ian say they are ‘feeling inspired’ ahead of the Ironman because they know that they ‘will be raising funds to help save lives’.
Kurt said: “It is a fantastic service, and the clinicians do an incredible job.”
He admits getting back into training has been a ‘massive culture shock’ and he feels like a ‘newbie, learning everything again.’
Kurt continued: “After having so many years off and then coming back to do a minimum of ten hours a week of exercise, juggling family life and work, it is a lot.
Kurt said: “It is a fantastic service, and the clinicians do an incredible job.”
He admits getting back into training has been a ‘massive culture shock’ and he feels like a ‘newbie, learning everything again.’
Kurt continued: “After having so many years off and then coming back to do a minimum of ten hours a week of exercise, juggling family life and work, it is a lot.
“Even though I have all that experience, you forget how much of your life you need to spend working out.
“Thankfully, I actually enjoy doing it, if you don’t like exercising, it is very difficult to commit that much time to a challenge.”
Ian, whose partner is expecting their first child and is due the week after the Tenby Ironman, said: “I couldn’t have chosen a busier time to do a challenge! It’s all go.”
He continued: “Trying to juggle things is difficult and every weekend is full on, trying to push yourself a bit more. But I am getting there. I’ve always been into road biking, and I started proper running about a year ago.
“Swimming is probably the hardest of the three, but you have to get into it, to do Ironman.”
He has this advice for anyone thinking about taking it on, “If you want to do it, you need to just put your name down or you might regret that you never took the chance when you had it.”
Kurt says it feels surreal after all he’s been through to be able to challenge his body again.
He said: “The strapline for the event is ‘Anything is Possible’, and if the past few years are anything to go by, that is so true.
“I am seeing this event as an opportunity to prove to myself that I’m as fit as I was, as well as supporting the Wales Air Ambulance. It is going to be a good day when it arrives.”
To date, Barratt David Wilson Homes has helped raise £41,000 for Wales Air Ambulance.
Phae Jones, Director of Income Generation said: “It has been deeply moving to learn that this will be Kurt’s first Ironman back since his bowel cancer diagnosis.
“We are honoured that he has chosen to enter this challenge in aid of our lifesaving charity.
“And Ian, will just be one week away from becoming a dad when he puts on our Charity trisuit, so anyone who is about to become a parent will understand this is no easy feat.
“This dynamic duo who both work for our Charity partner Barratt David Wilson Homes will be really challenging themselves during the iconic Tenby Ironman on 21 September.
“We are hugely grateful for the support of the whole team who have organised several big events over the next few months in a bid to help us continue saving lives.”
