A local father-of-three has made a donation of more than £3,000 for the hospital that cared for his son after undertaking his ultimate challenge – his first ironman distance triathlon.
Having participated in triathlon events for years, 45-year-old Gordon Mitchell from Eaglescliffe decided to push himself to his limit. In July, he challenged himself to complete a full ironman distance event.
His aim was to complete the gruelling event in less than 12 hours to raise £1,000 for the children’s ward at the Trust. The event consisted of a:
- 2.4 mile swim
- 112 mile cycle
- Marathon run
Gordon’s motivation in reaching his target was the excellent care one of his sons received on the children’s ward whilst being treated for pneumococcal meningitis.
And within a month of setting up his fundraising page, Gordon had already beat his original fundraising aim. He ultimately tripled his target by reaching £3061.73 for the Trust where he also works as a physiotherapist.
“There’s so much you can achieve when you have a strong enough reason to achieve it.”
Gordon Mitchell, physiotherapist at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
Gordon continued: “When your child is ill in hospital, you feel some way indebted to pay the hospital back to say thank you. The children’s ward was the reason I knew I had to achieve it.
“When your child is ill in hospital, you feel some way indebted to pay the hospital back to say thank you. The children’s ward was the reason I knew I had to achieve it. Now I’m looking at what I can challenge myself with next.”
Gordon surpassed his time target by completing the ironman distance triathlon in 11 hours and 43 minutes. And his family – his wife Leanne Mitchell, sons Joshua and Justin and his daughter Isla – all crossed the finishing line alongside him.
He has since taken on the Great North Run to raise even more money for the Trust’s children’s ward. He completed the half marathon in an impressive one hour and 33 minutes
The money raised will be used to encourage children to take up physical activity while they are in hospital to help build strength and improve mobility – something Gordon is passionate about.
Alyson Thompson, team leader on the children’s ward, said: “We’re so grateful to Gordon for his support and donation – it’s such an amazing amount of money.
“We’re currently working through lots of ideas with Gordon to encourage children to be more active while in hospital. This money will make a huge difference to our young patients.”