When local distiller David Blick takes on his sixth Ironman Challenge next month it will see a return to where it all began. For the 53-year-old, Tenby is not only the home of one of the toughest triathlons in the world - but the town where the inspiration for his award-winning Warwickshire Gin Company was born.

And powering him on through every 140 miles of the gruelling challenge will be the memory of his late mum, Maggie, who died after a battle with breast cancer just a few months ago.

After months of training, on Sunday 13 September, David will be hoping to complete a 3.8km sunrise swim followed by a 180km bike ride and 42km run in less than the required 17 hours.

But it’s already a well-trodden path for the fundraiser whose visit to Tenby Gin in 2018, inspired his journey to entrepreneurship prompting, him to leave his retail and logistics career of 28 years to launch a distillery business in Leamington.

David said: “A conversation with the team at Tenby Gin all those years ago set me on a path I could never have imagined. Returning now feels like closing a loop, reconnecting with the place that helped shape my journey.

“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. This time, the challenge is bigger than the course as I’m racing for Breast Cancer Research in my mum’s memory.

“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.”

He added: “Mum faced cancer with the kind of quiet strength only mums seem to have. After her mastectomy, we learned the cancer was aggressive, and pain management became the only option. She passed away on Saturday 11 April.

“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.

“If you’re able to donate, share, or simply cheer from the sidelines, it means more than I can say. Together, we can help fund research that gives other families hope, options, and time.”

Donate to David’s fundraiser page here.

The inspiration behind Warwickshire Gin Company’s drinks collection comes from a desire to capture a moment in history, developing flavours to fully represent the county’s own unique story and bringing the range of hand-crafted flavours to life.

The distillery also offers popular visitor experiences - Gin Tasting, Cocktails at The Distillery and Afternoon Gin & Tea, plus a range of build-your-own branded gift bundles, including spirits, goblet, mixers and gin or rum-infused chocolates.

WGC shot to the envied top spot on Tripadvisor thanks to five-star reviews from visitors. Internationally it’s also made its mark, achieving the “Travellers’ Choice Award” which puts the distillery in the top 10% of businesses listed in the world based on reviews.