A PROMISE made from a hospital bed in England will be fulfilled on Sunday, May 5, at Ironman Port Macquarie 2013.
When Lee Dixon was diagnosed with cancer in 2005 he made a promise to himself that if he got through the battle, he would take on a physical and mental challenge: and beat it.
At the time, Lee and his wife Anya had successful careers in the UK working with large multi-national blue chip organisations, in high profile roles chasing the big pounds and really didn’t maximise their time together as a family, along with their three children Daryan, Elenya and Kaylun.
“Everything came to a head in 2005 when Lee was diagnosed with cancer and the prognosis was grim,” Anya said.
“However, those who know Lee would not be surprised to hear that he was not going to let this dampen his spirit nor curtail his plans for his and his family’s future.
“After a number of operations and a physically and emotionally gruelling year of treatment and rehabilitation, he made a full recovery and was given the all clear in 2007.
“This marked a defining moment in our lives – life was for living – so we embarked on the two-year visa process to make a huge change and begin a new life in Australia.
“Our family moved straight to Port Macquarie in June 2009.”
Lee said he could not believe how beautiful Port Macquarie and the surrounding areas were.
“We now live in paradise,” he said.
After watching Ironman Port Macquarie in 2010, Lee revealed a small secret he had kept to himself for years.
“He told us that he had made a promise to himself one night in hospital that if he got through the cancer he would find something that would challenge him physically and mentally and conquer it,” Anya said.
“Watching those athletes compete in Ironman Port Macquarie, understanding the distances involved and the sacrifices to even compete together with the amazing stories he heard, he immediately knew that this was it.”
Lee said everything suddenly became clear.
“I had found my challenge. My focus immediately became clear – I wanted to hear those words for myself … ’Lee Dixon, you are an ironman’.
So, after a number of smaller local triathlons, a couple of 70.3’s completed, with a great coach and mentor, Nick Withycombe, coupled with the full support of Anya, his children, parents, family and friends – he is ready to take on the Ironman Port Macquarie 2013 on the morning of Sunday, 5 May.
The Dixons have established themselves quickly with the help of some new found Aussie friends. More recently, Lee and Anya have also successfully taken on the challenge of establishing a start-up consulting business, DXN Solutions.
“For me, this is a story of hope and belief – anything is possible and I live and breathe my mantra every day: believe and achieve,” Lee said.
