A former junior soccer star is taking on one of sport’s ultimate tests to raise money for a charity that is specially dear to him.
Chris James’s grandmother suffered a stroke last year and six months later 79-year-old Mrs Joan Trollope is only just able to start speaking again.
Now Chris, who works at Boots in the Quadrant Centre in Swansea, is planning to take part in the Gower Bay Triathlon in July to raise money for the Strike Association and also for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The 24-year-old Swansea University graduate from Llansamlet is certainly taking his training seriously – in the last 12 months he has lost five stone and he goes to the gym up to six times a week as well as running regularly.
He said: “I decided to set myself a challenge of doing a triathlon so I will have to swim 750 metres, cycle 24 kilometres and then run five kilometres.
“I’ve never done it before but I’m in good shape and I’m looking forward to it.”
Karen Gallagher, at Boots in the Quadrant Centre, said: “Chris has really worked hard and we’re all right behind him and will be cheering him on in July.
“He trains unbelievably hard and it’s wonderful that he is raising money for a charity which obviously means so much to him and also for our own charity in the store.”
Chris, a member of the Swansea City School of Excellence in his early teens, was a talented centre-back in Welsh Schools age group squads but broke his leg badly at 16.
He added: “I wanted to raise money for charity and I’ve really enjoyed working at Boots in the Quadrant so I will be rasing money for Macmillans which is Boots chosen charity and also for the Stroke Association.
“My nana suffered a stroke last year after having an operation for a replacement knee and she was in hospital for four months and she’s only just started to talk again.
“She’s doing really well though and she was able to join us at the table for Christmas dinner so I would really like to do something for people like her and it would really mean a lot to me.
“Macmillans is a wonderful charity as well and cancer is something which affects all of us in some way.”
Chris, who gained a BA in Languages and Communication from Swansea University, plays five-a-side twice as week as part of his training regime and still watches the Swans when he gets the chance.
He works as an operations assistant at Boots, helping set up and take down the displays in the Quadrant Centre store and he’s hopeful of persuading some of his colleagues to join him in the triathlon.
He will have company though, a friend, Jamie Gallagher, who has just moved to another Boots store, is doing the event with him and Chris said: “I am really enjoying getting ready for it.
“I’ve lost so much weight I’ve had to buy a new set of clothes about five times in the last year.
“It’s been really good though and as well as the gym I’ve been swimming and cycling and I run on Swansea beach, from the docks to Black Pill and back.
“I don’t mind what the weather is like but you do have to watch the tide – I don’t want to be doing my swimming training out at sea.”
