More Than Our Story

My IRONMAN Journey

More Than Our Story Founder, Daniel Hight, crossing the finish line at IRONMAN Canada, August 3rd, 2025.

Table of Contents

The Beginning

I started More Than Our Story after receiving my diagnosis of incurable brain cancer to inspire people by creating a platform where they can share their stories and challenges. I wanted to help others realize they’re not alone and that they are more than their diagnosis. I recalled my childhood dream of becoming an IRONMAN, and over the next few years, I battled seizures, cancer treatments, and setbacks, physical, mental, and emotional. Less than a year after my surgery, I had completed my first half-IRONMAN, and I was on my way.

Learning Grace

The last update I provided was almost a year ago in the post ‘Still Here: An Update,’ where I discussed the adversities my family and I faced that summer. The previous year, I received news that my tumor had stopped responding to my clinical trial, and I was to begin radiation and chemotherapy. It was during these treatments that I signed up for the full IRONMAN Arizona in November 2024, with the race acting as a light at the end of the treatment tunnel. On the same day I started my treatments, my mom underwent a biopsy for her own cancer battle. Over the next few months, her health declined rapidly, and she eventually passed on August 7th, 2024. I was mentally drained from my mother’s passing, and physically exhausted from the constant chemotherapy treatments. Ultimately, I listened to what my body was telling me; I gave myself grace and canceled my IRONMAN Arizona race, knowing my mom would be proud of me no matter what.

RELATED ARTICLE:
My post Still Here: An Update where I discuss the adversities my family and I faced last summer.

Never Alone

Later that year, still undergoing chemotherapy, I signed up for IRONMAN Canada in Ottawa, 2025. When I finished my last round of chemotherapy on March 21st, 2025, my energy returned just in time to ramp up my training. Last Sunday was race day, and I finished IRONMAN Canada and achieved my childhood dream. Today holds a special meaning to me. It was exactly one year ago that my mom passed away from cancer. The IRONMAN was supposed to be the hardest thing I had ever done in my life, but I wasn’t alone. My mom was with me every step of the journey. As I was waiting to start the swim while the national anthem was being sung, I looked up and said out loud, “I’m doing this for you, Mom, we’re going to do this”. A huge smile spread across my face and never left. That became my mantra; I repeated it countless times during the race. Every time I needed to dig deep, “I’m doing this for you, Mom, we’re going to do this,” and I was renewed. As I approached the finish line, I said it one more time: “We did it, Mom.”

It Takes A Village

It would not have been possible to accomplish my goal without the unwavering love and support of my family and friends. I also want to thank all the amazing volunteers at the race who were fantastic and dedicated their time to help others achieve their dreams. Finally, I want to thank my wife Denise, who has been supportive from the start and was my biggest cheerleader, unwavering in her belief in me.

I hope my story helps inspire others to realize they’re not alone in their struggles, that they are more than their diagnosis, and that anything is possible with enough hard work, dedication, and support.

Love you, Mom.

Picture of Daniel

Daniel

Daniel is an extremely curious person, a wealth of random knowledge and facts. Extremely passionate about a vast array of interests ranging from health to history, science to athletics, everything culinary and the list goes on. Trust us, you would want to be on his team for Trivial Pursuit. Daniel is also years into his battle with brain cancer. He experienced a seizure while on a Zoom call at work in late 2020 and quite literally, his life changed within minutes. After his operation he started to talk about his story but had always known it was more than just him. From then, More Than Our Story became a PROJECT that has evolved into the starting point it is today.

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