Triathlete Chrissie Wellington is to visit the Isle of Man for a fundraising event organised by The Children’s Centre.
The four-time Ironman World Champion will be at the Manx Museum on November 28 for an interactive question and answer session to talk about her remarkable career.
There’s also an opportunity to go on a cycle ride with the triathlon star at lunchtime on the same day.
Chrissie ended her career undefeated over the Ironman distance and broke a number of records in an event which comprises a 3.86km swim (2.4 miles), followed by a 180km (111.8 miles) bike ride and running a full marathon of 42.2km (26.2 miles).
The Ironman World Championships are held annually in Hawaii.
Chrissie won her first world title in 2007 to become the first British triathlete (male or female) to win the event and then retained the title in 2008 and 2009.
After missing the 2010 race due to illness she returned to take her fourth world title in 2011. In 2008 she won the women’s event in the Alpe d’Huez Long Course Triathlon which included an ascent of the mountain regularly used in the Tour de France.
In addition, she finished second overall and only just over a minute behind the Brazilian Marcus Ornellas - the only man who could outpace her after six hours of racing.
In 2010 Chrissie was awarded an MBE for services to her sport, and in 2012 retired from competing as a professional triathlete.
Since then she has focused her energies on a range of interests away from sport including motivational speaking, writing her autobiography ‘Life Without Limits’, and supporting a number of charities including Girls Education Nepal, Envision (a UK based youth empowerment organisation), the Jon Blais’ Foundation for ALS, and Jane’s Appeal (the charity established by the late Jane Tomlinson CBE).
Susie Cox, The Children’s Centre’s fundraising co-ordinator, said: ‘We’re really pleased to be able to welcome Chrissie Wellington to the Isle of Man, and extremely grateful to Microgaming and SMP Partners for sponsoring her visit.
‘Chrissie’s career as an outstanding triathlete will be of interest to the many sportsmen and sportswomen we have in the island. However, she is a tremendously inspirational individual whose story resonates far beyond the confines of the sporting arena, so we are sure her visit will have a broad appeal.
‘Tickets are going fast so we would advise anyone who is interested in attending to get in touch as soon as possible.’
Tickets for the ‘Evening with Chrissie Wellington’ event are £15, or £10 for those aged 18 or under.
The evening is from 6.30pm to 8.30pm with doors opening at 6.15pm.
Soft drinks will be provided on arrival.
Tickets can be bought by going to the ‘events’ page at www.thechildrenscentre.org.im or by emailing fundraising@thechildrenscentre.org.im
There are still places left for the cycle ride with Chrissie Wellington on November 28.
Tickets cost £100 - email The Children’s Centre’s Development Manager Juana Warburton at juanawarburton@thechildrenscentre.org.im for more details.
Funds raised by Chrissie’s visit will go to The Children’s Centre’s charitable projects such as Mobex, Out2Play, Child Contact Centre, Community Development and the Community Farm which all help families and children across the island.