Southport man races Ironman to honour family lost to suicide 2026

Key Points

• Daniel Cardwell, aged 44 years, from Southport, finished the Ironman 70.3 Weymouth race which took place on Sunday, September 20, 2026. He swam 1.3 miles, cycled 56 miles and ran 13.2 miles.
• The reason for Daniel’s participation in the race was the need to collect £10,000 for The Jordan Legacy, a charity organization established in memory of the founder’s son Jordan, a victim of suicide in December 2019.
• In total, Daniel lost three relatives to suicide – his cousin Jacqueline Cardwell when he was 10 years old, another cousin Jason approximately ten years after that and his brother Craig in June 2019.
• Daniel prepared for the race for 18 months and described the training regime, including early mornings, tough trainings, problems and overcoming boundaries.
• Daniel Cardwell is one of the founders of HIMvisible, a group for men’s mental health support in St Helens, and he has already successfully participated in some charity races like Liverpool Santa Dash, St Helens 10K and climbing Mount Snowdon.
• The Jordan Legacy provides support to different educational establishments, workplaces and communities in order to prevent suicides with the vision of Zero Suicide Society.

Southport (Liverpool standard) September 22, 2026 – Daniel Cardwell completed the Ironman 70.3 Weymouth in a bid to raise £10,000 for suicide prevention charity The Jordan Legacy. The 44-year-old dad-of-one undertook the 70.3-mile triathlon—comprising a 1.3-mile sea swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.2-mile run—after 18 months of gruelling training, describing the process as involving early mornings, long sessions, setbacks and pushing himself further than he ever thought he could.

As reported by journalists across multiple local titles, including the Liverpool Echo, Lancs Live and Stand Up For Southport, Daniel’s effort was motivated by the loss of three family members to suicide and his desire to support the work of The Jordan Legacy, which he said he could not do “day in, day out” but could back through endurance sport.

How did Daniel Cardwell’s family losses shape his fundraising mission?

Daniel Cardwell’s commitment to suicide prevention has been shaped by three deaths in his own family. When he was 10, his cousin Jacqueline Cardwell took her own life; around a decade later, another cousin, Jason Cardwell, also died by suicide. Tragedy struck again in June 2019, when his brother Craig, 35, died by suicide, leaving behind his wife and two young sons, Stevie Lee and Oliver James.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Daniel said Craig “was a loving dad” with his own joinery business and a home, and that his death was “sudden” and “unexpected”, coming just two weeks after another family bereavement. He recalled having to tell his parents about Craig’s death, an experience he said would “stick with me forever”.

In the months after Craig’s death, Daniel became a founding member of HIMvisible, a group offering support to men suffering from depression and mental health issues in the St Helens area. He has since completed a series of charity challenges, including the Liverpool Santa Dash, the St Helens 10K and a climb of Mount Snowdon, before turning his focus to The Jordan Legacy Foundation.

What is The Jordan Legacy and why did Daniel choose it?

The Jordan Legacy CIC was formed in August 2020 following the death of founder Steve Phillip’s son, Jordan Phillip, who took his own life on December 4, 2019. According to the charity, more than 7,000 men, women and children take their own lives in the UK each year, impacting almost one million people known to them collectively.

As reported by a journalist at Lancs Live, Daniel said he “came across Steve Phillip who runs the Jordan Legacy and I was inspired by what he does day in, day out”, noting that Steve lost his son around the same time the Cardwell family lost Craig. He added that Steve “lives and breathes moving the dial on reducing the number of suicides in the UK, going to schools, colleges, businesses, the police and even Parliament”.

Daniel told Lancs Live that Steve and his daughter Danielle are “a small team who do what they do day in and day out” with a mission to prevent other families experiencing the devastation of suicide, working across the UK to help schools, workplaces and communities understand practical steps to prevent suicide, with a vision of moving towards a “Zero Suicide Society”.

What did Daniel Cardwell say before and after the Ironman 70.3 Weymouth?

Ahead of the event, Daniel said: “This Sunday (20th September 2026), I’ll be taking on Ironman 70.3 Weymouth! Fingers crossed I will complete it.” He described 18 months of training involving “early mornings, long sessions, setbacks and pushing myself further than I ever thought I could”.

Explaining his motivation, he told Lancs Live: “My motivation throughout has been to do all I can to support The Jordan Legacy, who I have worked with for a couple of years now. I lost my brother to suicide, and my cousins.” He added: “For me personally and my family, the Cardwells, we have lost three family members to suicide. It’s devastating as too many families sadly know. We hail from St Helens, which has one of the highest suicide rates in the UK.”

On his aims, Daniel said: “My aim is to try and raise £10,000 to try and support The Jordan Legacy. Their story is very much like mine.” He praised Steve and Danielle, saying: “So first and foremost I’d like to give a shout out to Steve and Danielle for everything they do because I can swim, I can run, I can cycle, but I could not do what they do day in, day out – thank you, because people need what you do for them.”

He also issued a direct appeal: “If there’s anything I can ask – if people can kindly share any of my posts, if you could donate, it would be much appreciated. If any businesses would like to sponsor me you will be very much welcome.” Stressing the wider context, he said: “The whole mantra around The Jordan Legacy is to try and reduce the number of suicides in the UK. Because the numbers are rising. It’s a fact. It’s not going down. I’m pledging now to keep going until I get this £10,000.”

Daniel concluded: “Every share helps spread the message. Every donation helps The Jordan Legacy continue its work. And ultimately, every conversation about suicide could help save a life.”

How does Daniel Cardwell view sport’s role in suicide prevention?

Daniel, a keen sportsman who once played basketball for England at junior level, has framed his endurance challenge as a way to amplify the work of specialist suicide prevention organisations. He told the Liverpool Echo: “I don’t want anyone in Merseyside to have to go through what my family has had to go through, what Steve has gone through. We need to get people talking, raise that awareness, and it’s my way of getting back to something close to my heart.”

His comments echo wider conversations about the role of sport in mental health and suicide prevention, including high-profile advocacy by members of the Royal Family, such as the Prince and Princess of Wales, who have highlighted the contribution sports can make in this area.

Where can people support Daniel Cardwell’s fundraiser?

Daniel’s fundraiser for The Jordan Legacy Foundation is hosted on JustGiving, where supporters can donate and share his campaign. He has also encouraged people to follow his journey on Instagram and to share his posts to widen the reach of the message.

For those affected by suicidal thoughts or mental health difficulties, multiple support services are available, including Samaritans (116 123), Childline (0800 1111), PAPYRUS HOPELINEUK (0800 068 4141), CALM (0800 58 58 58), and the Depression Alliance, alongside student-focused resources such as Students Against Depression.

Background to the Ironman 70.3 Weymouth and Daniel’s preparation

The Ironman 70.3 Weymouth is a half-Ironman triathlon covering 70.3 miles in total: a 1.3-mile open-water sea swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.2-mile run. Daniel Cardwell, who works as National Strategy Manager for Energy & Infrastructure at Nationwide Platforms, part of the Loxam Group, spent 18 months preparing for the event, balancing training with his professional responsibilities.

Born and raised in St Helens and educated at De La Salle School, Daniel moved to Southport four years ago. His sporting background includes playing basketball for England at junior level, which he has drawn upon in undertaking a series of endurance and fundraising challenges over several years.

Prediction: how could this development affect mental health awareness in Merseyside?

Daniel Cardwell’s completion of the Ironman 70.3 Weymouth and his sustained fundraising for The Jordan Legacy is likely to increase visibility of suicide prevention issues across Merseyside and the wider North West, particularly in communities such as St Helens and Southport where he has personal and professional ties. By linking a high-profile endurance event to a charity with a clear “Zero Suicide Society” mission, the campaign may encourage more open conversations about mental health among men, families and workplaces, and prompt increased donations and volunteer engagement for local and national suicide prevention initiatives.

Over time, such efforts could contribute to greater awareness of support services, earlier help-seeking behaviour, and stronger community-level understanding of practical steps to reduce suicide risk, especially in areas with historically high suicide rates.