TWO Irvine dads are celebrating after competing a gruelling Ironman challenge in memory of an Irvine toddler who died of a rare cancer.

Graeme Wylie and Steven Bryce, both 41, took part in the Barcelona Ironman contest on Sunday and managed to complete the challenging course and raised almost £2,000 for Calum’s Cabin.

The pals decided to compete and raise money in honour of two-year-old Emily Nelson who died suddenly in 2013 of an undetected tumour in her liver.

Emily’s mum, Suzanne Nelson, is Graeme’s cousin and the offshore worker says after seeing firsthand how Calum’s Cabin helped the family through Emily’s death, he wanted to raise vital funds for the charity.

He said: “My cousin lost her two-year-old to a cancerous tumour, they supported her well and provided her with the lodge as a get away. She still goes over every year. She says it’s a lovely place with a lot of memories.”

Graeme and Steven started their Ironman challenge on Sunday morning and 11 hours and seven minutes later Graeme had crossed the finish line, followed by Steven who came in at 15 hours and eight minutes,

The boys started off with a 2.4mile swim in the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, beginning and ending on the beach of Calella, followed by a 112 mile bike ride and finished off with a marathon from Calella to Calella-Santa Susanna.

Graeme said: “It was brilliant overall. We got good conditions to be fair, but both suffered on the run, but we both managed to hit our targets. I was 11 hours and seven minutes, Steven was 15 hours eight minutes and we raised over £1,700 quid which is brilliant.”

As well as donations from the public, the boys were sponsored by local butchers J&A Quinn who helped them buy the equipment they needed for the contest.

Graeme added: “Quinn the Butchers sponsored us and we got some equipment with the money which was great. Although I think we are the first Ironmen to be sponsored by slice sausage.”

To donate to the boys’ fundraising page visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/GraemeStevenBarca2019