EMILY Sammut says her dad is insane, he is crazy.
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But she is very proud because he is doing every thing he can to help people who suffer from breast cancer, like her mum and her grandmother.
“I’m really happy,” she said.
Emily’s dad, Brett Sammut, has decided to complete an indoor iron man competition, racing against the clock to raise $10,000 for the McGrath Foundation.
From 5am on March 7, Mr Sammut will swim 152 laps of the pool at Fitness Perfection (3.8 kilometres)and ride 180 kilometres on a bike while a screen at the gym shows a man simulating the iron man course.
That means if Mr Sammut stops, the man stops, if he slows, the man slows.
He’ll finish his course with a 42.19 kilometre marathon on a treadmill and is expected to take about 13 hours.
“I want to raise awareness ... especially for the support the McGrath Foundation has given us during Francine’s treatment,” he said.
Mr Sammut said he only heard every third word during the initial doctors appointments after his wife was diagnosed.
He said the McGrath Foundation breast cancer nurse in Orange, Sue Kuter, was invaluable in helping them deal with the news, understanding the treatment, and providing them with a level of support others could not because of her cancer knowledge.
“The doctors talk in doctor speak and [Sue Kuter] really helped us come up with ways to understand it,” he said.
“She helped us feel not as bombarded.”
Mr Sammut kicked off his fundraising with a donation from the Coffee Club in Orange and since then the help has been flooding in. With a tally of $1100 already, he is optimistic he will reach his target.
Mr Sammut will “sell” kilometres of the journey for people to join him along the way, but he is saving the last two and half kilometres for his daughters, Tegan and Emily.
“I’m really proud,” Emily said.
Mr Sammut is collecting sporting memorabilia to raffle off and is asking businesses to consider helping him to help families across Australia who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
For information visit the website mcgrathfoundation.gofundraise.com.au and search for Brett’s Pink Indoor Ironman Challenge.