For those of us struggling to maintain new year fitness goals this month, here’s some inspiration from CLAPA Dad Ben…
Two Januarys ago, Ben started running – and competed in his first Ironman triathlon last September, raising more than £3,300 for CLAPA. 
The 26-year-old Welsh civil engineer said his fitness had declined since he’d stopped playing rugby.
“I’d played since I was seven, but then done nothing for two years and gained a lot of weight. I needed to make a change.
“Me and my fiancée Chloe were travelling in Australia. Around New Year 2024, after a few drinks in Sydney the night before, I was so fed up of the way I was feeling. I quit drinking cold turkey out there, and slowly got into running. I haven’t looked back since.”
Having only run casually before, Ben started looking at challenge events for motivation.
When I booked the Ironman, I couldn’t swim a length in the pool, and barely ever cycled. I didn’t own a bike. I had a pair of trainers, that was all.
“When I booked the Ironman, I couldn’t swim a length in the pool, and barely ever cycled. I didn’t own a bike. I had a pair of trainers, that was all.”
Ben trained for 12 months, including 10 with a coach – alternating swimming, running, and cycling two to three times a week, with extra weekend double sessions. During training, he ran his first marathon in Manchester, and a half Ironman.
His hard work paid off when he completed the Tenby IRONMAN Wales triathlon in September – a 2.4-mile sea swim, 112-mile cycle, and marathon – in 14 hours and 33 minutes.
Originally, Ben signed up for fitness, not fundraising. And then, a month before the challenge, his
daughter Gracie was born with an unexpected cleft palate.
“I was just doing Ironman for me, I didn’t really want the pressure of doing it for charity because of how hard a challenge it was – I thought, if I don’t finish, I’m just going to feel guilty. And then, obviously, with Gracie being born, everything changed.”
Gracie, Ben and Chloe’s first born, arrived on August 12, 2025.
“We were still in theatre, after a planned c-section, and the midwife pulled me aside and said, ‘I’ve just noticed Gracie has a cleft palate,’ and I was like, ‘sorry, I’ve no idea what that is.’
I’d obviously heard of cleft, but never seen it. They managed to open Gracie’s mouth to show me, and I was quite overwhelmed.
“I’d obviously heard of cleft, but never seen it. They managed to open Gracie’s mouth to show me, and I was quite overwhelmed.”
Gracie was also diagnosed with Pierre Robin Sequence days later before being transferred to the specialist respiratory team at Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales.
Pierre Robin Sequence is characterised by an underdeveloped jaw which causes the tongue to fall backwards, leading to breathing and feeding problems which need specialised care.
“We followed the ambulance to Cardiff, and ended up being there for about four weeks.”
Ben said, although the cleft teams were incredibly helpful, they felt “isolated and overwhelmed” until they found CLAPA.
“In the hospital I started looking at CLAPA’s Facebook page, and scrolled through their Instagram. I instantly showed it to Chloe, because I couldn’t believe how many families had experienced, or were experiencing, what we were going through.
Up until then, we’d been really struggling. But then, after reading so many different posts we felt so much more at ease.
“Up until then, we’d been really struggling. But then, after reading so many different posts we felt so much more at ease. Even though we were still stuck in hospital, and didn’t know when we were leaving, seeing those families and stories took so much anxiety off our shoulders.”
With the Ironman date drawing closer, Ben continued some training around hospital visits, but said it was becoming unrealistic.
“I spoke to Chloe about pulling out. We didn’t know if we were even going to be home, and Gracie was obviously the priority.
“And then I saw people doing fundraising events for CLAPA, and it was like a light bulb moment – I thought I’m still going to do it, and I’m going to do it for CLAPA.
“I posted the GoFundMe page, 20 days before the Ironman, thinking if I get my £750 goal I’d be so grateful. Chloe fully agreed I should give it a go, so I shared it to my Instagram.”
Ben then went for a swim, checking his phone before getting in the pool. In just one hour he’d raised £450.
“I got in that pool so motivated. When I got back to the car, I checked my phone again and it was even more – £1,100 – after two hours. There was so much instant support from friends and family, I was nearly tearing up.”
Ben raised £3,302 in less than a month.
When I saw the red carpet towards the finish line it was very overwhelming, especially seeing Chloe and Gracie there.
“I honestly couldn’t believe it, it was incredible. The Ironman was a very tough, long day. When I saw the red carpet towards the finish line it was very overwhelming, especially seeing Chloe and Gracie there.”
Gracie is now at home with Ben and Chloe, still needing medical assistance but “developing amazingly”.
“She’s laughing and her personality is really coming out now. Her face is still covered with tubes and tapes, but we know it’s a means to an end and they’ll be off soon.
“We didn’t have that family time at home after the birth, which was hard for us. I took two weeks off over Christmas, and that’s been lovely, exactly what we needed.”
Ben is now looking at running the Great Welsh Marathon in March, followed by further triathlons this year.
His advice for those looking to get fitter this year is to start slow, not necessarily jump into an Ironman.
“Just do what you’re capable of, and in no time you can really surprise yourself.”
Thank you Ben
Thanks Ben for your story and your fundraising for CLAPA.