A 65-year-old is taking on the biggest physical challenge of his life to honour his parents and thank the hospital team who cared for them during their final days.
Nick Strong will take part in his first IRONMAN 70.3 in Cascais, Portugal, on Saturday 17 October, raising money for C1 Glover – a cardiology ward at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby.
The gruelling event will see Nick complete a 1.9km sea swim, followed by a 90km bike ride including a challenging 5km climb, before finishing with a 21.1km half marathon along the coastline.
He is taking on the challenge in memory of his parents, Judy and Peter, who both died from heart-related problems in 2025. His dad died in January and his mum in November, with both spending their final days on the ward.
Nick said: “Mum and dad received wonderful care from the team at C1 Glover. Their compassion, professionalism and dedication meant an enormous amount to us, particularly during those final days.”
Judy and Peter were married for 66 years and received cards from the late Queen for their 60th wedding anniversary, and the King and Queen for their 65th. Originally from the North East, the family moved to Keelby in the late 1960s before Judy and Peter spent their later years in Scartho.
Nick, who joined Southampton Triathlon Club when he was 57 and subsequently became its chairman, has spent the past eight years enjoying triathlon and fitness. He has completed numerous shorter-distance triathlons, but has never attempted an IRONMAN 70.3.
He said: “Losing both parents to heart-related problems has made me think much more deeply about heart health. I want to use this challenge to encourage people to think about their own heart health and the importance of staying active.
“You don’t have to train for an Ironman to look after your heart. Walking, cycling, swimming, gardening, playing with your grandchildren or simply becoming a little more active can all be steps in the right direction.
And if my story encourages even one person to think differently about their heart health, it will be worthwhile.”
The challenge is also about turning an incredibly difficult year for the family into something positive and encouraging others to become more active.
Nick added: “You don’t have to be an elite athlete. You don’t have to be young. You just have to start somewhere.”
Helen Fenty-Plastow, Ward Manager, said: “We would like to say a big thank you to Nick for his fundraising efforts. It’s a fantastic and very thoughtful gesture. The money will be used to benefit our patients.”
Nick hopes to raise £1,000 for C1 Glover. Support Nick’s challenge on JustGiving.