Southport dad completes 70.3-mile Ironman in memory of family lost to suicide
Daniel Cardwell aims to raise £10,000 for The Jordan Legacy
A dedicated father from Southport has completed a gruelling 70.3-mile Ironman challenge in memory of family members who tragically took their own lives.
Daniel Cardwell completed the Ironman 70.3 Weymouth, marking its 10th anniversary, on Sunday 20th September 2026.
He embarked on this extraordinary journey to honour his brother Craig and cousins Jacqueline and Jason Cardwell, who all died by suicide.
Daniel aims to raise £10,000 for The Jordan Legacy, an organisation committed to suicide prevention.
With 18 months of intensive training behind him, Daniel, who is a National Strategy Manager for Energy & Infrastructure at Nationwide Platforms (Loxam Group), made the determined six-hour drive to Weymouth alongside his cousin and coach David Harrison.
The duo donned personalised attire from Southport Workwear, showcasing 'The Jordan Legacy' alongside supportive messages.
Reflecting on his journey, Daniel said: “It has been a phenomenal experience! I finally did it! I have gone through a big range of emotions... When Thomas was born it was the happiest day of my life, and this has been the second thing I’m proud of most.”
The event kicked off at 7:30 am with a challenging 1.3-mile sea swim, where Daniel achieved a personal best. He followed this with a hilly 56-mile bike ride as thoughts of his loved ones propelled him forward, then completed the challenge with a demanding 13.1-mile half marathon course along Weymouth Bay.
Daniel shared his gratitude for the overwhelming support from Weymouth's spectators and his team: “The atmosphere was amazing. The support we had was just mind-blowing.”
With over 7,000 lives lost annually to suicide in the UK, impacting nearly a million people, Daniel's efforts underscore the critical mission of The Jordan Legacy to establish a "Zero Suicide Society."
Driven by his family's memory, Daniel remains focused on raising awareness and funds to combat the increasing suicide rates.
Those wishing to support Daniel's fundraising efforts can access his JustGiving page titled "Crowdfunding For Good From JustGiving."