David Blick, the 53-year-old owner of the Warwickshire Gin Company based in Leamington, is preparing to complete his sixth Ironman challenge in Tenby, Wales, on Sunday, September 13, to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research following the death of his mother, Maggie, who lost her battle with breast cancer on April 11.
The gruelling event requires participants to finish a 3.8km sunrise swim, a 180km bike ride, and a 42km run within a 17-hour time limit. Blick has previously completed Ironman challenges in Bolton, Mallorca, Lanzarote, and twice in Wales, but his last attempt was eight years ago.
A Personal Connection to Tenby
Tenby holds a deeply personal significance for Blick. In 2018, a visit to Tenby Gin inspired him to leave his 28-year career in retail and logistics to launch his own distillery. Now, he returns to the same location where his business journey began to honour his late mother.
“A conversation with the team at Tenby Gin all those years ago set me on a path I could never have imagined,” Blick said. “Returning now feels like closing a loop, reconnecting with the place that helped shape my journey.”
Racing in Memory of His Mother
Blick is dedicating the challenge to his mother, Maggie, who faced cancer with what he described as “quiet strength only mums seem to have.” After her mastectomy, the family learned the cancer was aggressive, and pain management became the only option.
“I’ve done five Ironmans before - Bolton, Mallorca, Lanzarote and twice in Wales - but the last one was eight years ago when I was significantly younger,” Blick said. “This time, the challenge is bigger than the course as I’m racing for Breast Cancer Research in my mum’s memory.”
He added: “Watching someone you love face something so frightening and uncertain puts everything into perspective. I couldn’t fight her battle for her, but I could fight with her, in the best way I know how. Every mile, every hill, every moment I want to stop, will be for her, and for the thousands of families walking this same path.”
Fundraising for Research
Blick emphasised that the fundraiser is about supporting research that could give other families more time together. “There’s no easy way to run, bike, or swim through grief either, but I’m doing this because she deserves to be part of every mile. Because research matters. Because families deserve more time than we got. So every hill, every long training day, every moment I want to stop, she’ll be the reason I don’t,” he said.
He encouraged supporters to donate, share the campaign, or cheer from the sidelines. “Together, we can help fund research that gives other families hope, options, and time,” he said.
Warwickshire Gin Company Success
Since launching in Leamington, the Warwickshire Gin Company has developed a range of handcrafted spirits inspired by local history. The business offers visitor experiences including gin tasting, cocktails, and afternoon tea, and has achieved five-star ratings on Tripadvisor along with an international 'Travellers’ Choice Award', placing it in the top 10 per cent of businesses worldwide.
Donations to David’s fundraiser can be made at https://ironmanwales.gofundraise.co.uk/page/David-91572350, and more information about the Warwickshire Gin Company is available at https://warwickshiregincompany.co.uk/. The event takes place in Tenby, Wales.
