Barry man Sam taking on IRONMAN challenge for SSAFA

12 September 2024

Sam Ekstrom-Gabb from Barry is participating in IRONMAN Wales on 22 September to raise funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

Originally from Cardiff, Sam is not in the Armed Forces himself, but his father served in the RAF. He was in supplier logistics and served at Stafford, Benson and Oxfordshire.

Sam’s father Stewart created a charity rugby team named Celtic Rail Rugby, and Sam himself played for almost 20 years and was a proud member of the team. Each year the team would select a charity to represent and raise funds for – and last year that charity was SSAFA.

Sam added: “It made sense to pick SSAFA – many members on the team are current and former servicemembers. We did a tour of France, hiking, playing matches and raising funds along the way. We raised just under £10,000 for SSAFA.”

Sam has been training for months in preparation for IRONMAN Wales, a gruelling challenge event that begins with a 2.4-mile swim in Carmarthen Bay, followed by a 112-mile cycle around Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, and finishing with a 26.2-mile marathon in and around Tenby.

Sam has also been training for a completely different upcoming challenge; becoming a father. He is expecting the birth of his first child in four weeks’ time, shortly after completing the IRONMAN Wales challenge. It promises to be a busy and exciting time for the Welsh native.

If you would like to donate to Sam’s fundraising efforts, you can do so here.