The Ironman UK Race Office has a new partnership with the Help for Heroes charity, and with military triathlon teams located at Headley in Surrey.
As a result of this new relationship, the Ironman UK race organisers are proud to welcome 10 teams of Headley-based military personnel to the 2011 Ironman UK start line.
These teams will now join the 1,300 plus athletes currently entered into the 2011 event.
The teams are all serving British Military personnel who have suffered injuries during their recent postings.
In true Ironman style, these relay teams are going to show that ‘Anything Is Possible’. They will be racing the same course under the same rules and cut-off times as other competitors as per the global World Triathlon Corp (WTC) rules.
Alison Boon, from the Ironman UK Race Office said, “We are very proud to welcome our new competitors to the start line in July this year. All our athletes face challenges during race day, but this particular group of athletes will be facing the usual challenges that an Ironman throws at them – and then some!”
Mark Airey from Headley has been working with Alice Edmonds, the Race Office Co-Ordinator regarding the logistics required for the relay teams. He noted that “The whole unit at Headley are very excited at this Ironman UK opportunity. The logistics are all in place and the training has really begun in earnest now.”
“Maybe our biggest challenge come race day is that we have chosen to team a Para and a Marine together in one relay team so the banter has already started!”
“We also look forward to bringing our Help for Heroes Volunteers to assist at the event and to work alongside the current Ironman UK Race Crew.”
Help for Heroes will be one of the chosen Rotary charities at the 2011 Ironman UK event.
Alison Boon summed up by saying, ‘With confirmation that the Military Band has been booked to play the National Anthem at the race start, this new Headley/Help for Heroes relationship looks to make Ironman UK even more British than before!
“We very much hope our international competitors, home-grown competitors, and all our supporters love it!”
