Son motivates triathlete’s 24-hour effort to raise money for kids cancer
Nine years after his son Cooper was diagnosed with cancer, Mark Pacey undertook a 24-hour ultra triathlon to raise money to treat kids cancer.
The Express
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Mark Pacey named his gruelling 24-hour marathon triathlon in aid of children’s cancer research the Bloody Long Day in memory of his son’s successful battle with the disease.
Mr Pacey has raised more than $42,000 todate and celebrated with family and friends with a barbecue and beers after his final effort.
The 48-year-old Ironman contestant undertook his phenomenal effort from 10am on Friday, September 6 to 10am, Saturday, forgoing sleep for the The Kids’ Cancer Project.
He first did 10km of swimming at Revesby’s Max Parker Leisure and Aquatic Centre before cycling 455km and running 65km.
“I felt fantastic after the event,’ Mr Pacey told The Express.
“It was tough through the early hours of the morning but as I entered the last four hours I had tremendous support and finished really strongly.
“I enjoyed a fantastic barbecue and beers to celebrate with family and friends before heading for a well needed sleep.”
“I do ironman triathlons but trained specially for this for the past five months to get to this week.
“My original target was $10,000 to $14,000 and it just picked up momentum.”
The Lugarno father of two said his main supplements were electrolytes and energy gels.
He recalled it was a “bloody long day” when he, wife Lisa and daughter Tahlia, were at the bedside of seven-year-old son Cooper when he was treated for cancer at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.
“I will realise a commitment that I made to myself while I lay beside my beautiful son in the oncology ward,” Mr Pacey said.
“The commitment was to create an event that contributed towards curing kids cancer so that no other child and their families had to go through what Cooper and our family did.
“I am incredibly grateful to be in a position to contribute and humbled by the support that I have received.
“My hope is that this event will generate awareness about the endurance required to stick at something long enough to make a difference.”
Cooper has recovered from his cancer and is completing Year 11.
Mr Pacey said for two years they lived within the hospital environment for weeks on end.
“While those days often felt like a bloody long day (and I said it often enough), it was never anywhere near what the children with cancer had to endure through their treatment,” he said.
“Throughout that time and ever since, I have felt compelled to do more, but the time needed to be right.
“You can’t predict the future, but you can create it and a better future can be achieved.”
■ To support his cause, visit: charityfundraiser.everydayhero.com/au/markpacey_TheBloodyLongDay