Our story began when our son, Niko, got diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in February 2022. We started calling him our Brave Little Lion, a tribute to the Lion Ward at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where he went for treatment.

Helping Niko through the tough and sometimes painful times made us realize we needed some distractions. For me, that meant taking on different challenges every month and raising money for charities that supported us. I picked Spread a Smile because it’s an awesome charity that brings joy to seriously ill kids and their families. Every event and activity organized by them was a hit with Niko, giving him a break from the tough stuff.

Getting through this journey also inspired me to get fitter. The training was tough but surprisingly fun. It got my fitness back on track and gave me a good distraction. The event itself was great stepping out there made me feel amazing. Winning was a cool bonus.

The whole UWCB experience was a mix of challenging and exciting, and if you’re thinking about it, I’d totally recommend giving it a shot.