A Tenby man is embarking on a sporting mission to get in shape, to take on the gruelling Ironman Wales triathlon, to help raise funds for a local girl with leukaemia.

On his fundraising page set up to benefit the family of six-year-old Esther Mcweeney of Manorbier, who has been diagnosed with Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), Andi Jones announced his intentions to become an Ironman, but admitted: “I am overweight, I don't yet own a bike, I can't swim and I'm a terrible runner!”

“I have a year to combat all this to help out a local girl with leukaemia by taking part in the 2023 Tenby Ironman Competition,” continued Andi, who is co-ordinator at St Catherine’s Island which sits alongside Tenby’s Castle Beach.

Ironman which will return to Tenby and Pembrokeshire in 2023 on September 3, comprises of a 2.4-mile swim course that takes athletes twice around Goscar Rock on North Beach; before taking on a 112-mile bike ride; and then finishing with a 26.2-mile run (or full marathon).

Whilst admitting he needs to get in shape, it wasn’t always the case for Andi, as he was a keen cyclist, and even started a Cardiff to Tenby bike ride, before fully formed into the popular Carten100 charity bike ride.

“I used to cycle quite a lot about 20 years ago in my 30s, and I even started the Carten several years before the people who created the Carten made it a thing!” explained Andi.

“The only reason it was originally Cardiff to Tenby is that I wanted it to be an excuse to get to Tenby, only then did I discover it was exactly 100 miles.

“Me and my mate Mark did the first ever one for Diabetes UK. Over the next three years it got bigger, then I moved away. Several years later someone thought to call it Carten and it's become the smash it is, so I’m so proud of what it has become.

As the years went by, Andi gave up cycling and went back to his musicianship as a drummer, which he still enjoys today in his Saundersfoot based band ‘Footbridge’ who recently played the Summer Spectacular event at Tenby harbour, as well as being a regular fixture on the Pembrokeshire pub scene.

“The bassist and singer in the band are constantly training for Ironman, so it keeps grating on me that I'm getting older, more lazy, and carrying more weight. It has to stop now at age 54 or I’ll never get it back!” he remarked.

On learning about Esther’s appeal and the fact that her parents Philip and Jasmine, have given up their jobs to spend as much time as possible with their daughter, as she undergoes treatment at the Heath Hospital and recovery in the Rainbow Ward of the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff, Andi thought that it was a worthy cause to get back on the saddle.

“As I work on St Catherine's Island and Fort, pretty much every day we are in the Dennis Cafe before work, and it was there I saw an appeal to raise money for little Esther who has AML leukaemia,” continued Andi.

“I thought what a magnificent cause to get behind, as well as being the best kick up the behind anyone could get. How could I back out with that as my cause and motivation!?

“All I need to do now is learn to swim, buy a bike and discover a love for running...which I hate LOL!”

Anyone who would like to donate to Andi’s cause, can head to his fundraising page at: https://gofund.me/e1c2172b