Kayleigh’s Wee Stars co-founder completes World Ironman Championships in Hawaii

Jonathan Cordiner competing in the Vinfast IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii

In completing this epic challenge, Jonathan is also raising money for both Kayleigh’s Wee Stars (KWS) and the Ellon Wheel Park project.

Jonathan was part of an elite group of triathletes from around the world who qualified for the World IRONMAN Championship in Hawaii on Saturday, October 8. The course, in Kailua-Kona, comprised a 2.4 mile open-water swim, a 112 mile bike stage, followed by a 26 mile run.

Jonathan, who was competing alongside his brother, Stephen Cordiner, completed the gruelling 140.6 mile course in 10 hours and 25 minutes, while Stephen crossed the line in 9 hours and 14 minutes. Jonathan finished in 257th place out of 419 in the Male 35 – 39 category, and 985th overall out of 2,378 competitors. In the male 40 – 44 age category, Stephen finished 22nd out of 548, and 133rd overall.

Jonathan and his wife Anna set up Kayleigh’s Wee Stars (KWS) in 2012 to provide financial support for families where a child has a terminal illness. When Kayleigh was diagnosed in December 2011, they took time off work, vowing to make her last few months as special and memorable as possible. They set up the charity to help relieve the financial pressure on other families with a terminally ill child.

Jonathan said: “When my daughter Kayleigh became poorly, I found exercise to be a positive way of coping and staying strong. Having started out as a runner 10 years ago, one thing led to another, and I have been competing in Iron Man events over the last few years. I’ve been collecting lots of medals for Kayleigh over the years, but this one is the biggest so far, and I’m overjoyed to have done it for Kayleigh and my girls.

"I’m so grateful to my wife, Anna and our daughters, Charlotte and Emma for all the love and support they have given me – I couldn’t have done it without them. I would also like to thank my wider support crew of family and friends – your words of encouragement spurred me on when the going got tough! Thanks to everyone who has sponsored me so far - this means that we can continue to support families who are caring for a terminally ill child.”

Jonathan’s fundraising will also contribute to the Ellon Wheel Park development fund. The Ellon Wheel Park committee is a community group which is developing a new wheeled sports facility, which will comprise a cycling pump track, racing track and skate park in the town’s Gordon Park.

He added: “Ellon is a community I have been very much part of over the past 10 years. I owe a great deal to Ythan Cycle Club both in terms of getting me into cycling, and also the club are massive ambassadors for Kayleigh's Wee Stars.

“The Wheel Park is an exciting project for Ellon and the wider region, and aims to provide opportunities across a range of sports and activities for people of all ages. I would love to try and contribute in some small way to this project.”

To donate to Jonathan’s fundraising efforts visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jonathan-cordiner1

You can find out more about KWS at: www.kayleighsweestars.co.uk and the Ellon Wheel Park project at www.facebook.com/ellonwh eelspark/.