Ironman has a big heart

A first-time Ironman WA competitor is raising money to fight depression and anxiety.

Busselton man Jeremy Bleach is taking part in the gruelling event on December 8 in aid of charity Beyond Blue.

The 40-year-old assistant bank manager said he was doing so because several close friends and family members had struggled with depression and anxiety.

“I’m never going to win and it’s going to be a lot of pain so I wanted to do it for a reason that was bigger than myself,” he said.

“After seeing all those other competitors struggle through and not give up I realised that I could do it as well.”

Bleach has competed in four half-ironman events during the past three years but this is his first attempt at the full-length format.

A member of the Busselton Triathlon Club and the Busselton Jets Running Club, he said he was a “reasonable swimmer and bike rider” but admitted the run was “going to hurt”.

Cheering him from the sidelines will be his three children and wife Donna, who have all been supportive of his demanding training routine.

Bleach said he would do “heaps of training” for the next three weeks and afterwards would reduce his workload in order to be fresh for race time.

“I’m getting really excited now,” he said. “The sheer enormity of it is starting to hit me.”

“I’m hoping to finish at the 13 hour mark, but to finish at all will be a big enough achievement.”

Donate at www.everydayhero.com.au/jeremy-bleach.