“I survived!” Preston Files said after he crossed the finish line of the Ford Ironman Lake Placid. Running for Team Samaritan’s Purse, the 27-year-old marketing professional from Houston completed his first Ironman with a time of 14:52:16.

Ironman triathlons are considered among the most difficult of all endurance events. The course consists of a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike leg, and concluding with a marathon, a 26.2-mile run.

“There are obviously things I would do differently with the knowledge I now have about the race, but I was elated to finish under 15 hours, and finish on my feet,” Files said.

As an added reward, he received more than $9,000 in pledges for Samaritan’s Purse. Files raised money for Kijabe Hospital in Kenya, where his brother, Alan, is working through World Medical Mission.

“The money will go toward helping Alan set up a management information system at the hospital,” Preston said. “He is working to help set up a management information system at the hospital.”

World Medical Mission, the medical arm of Samaritan’s Purse, typically places physicians and dentists in mission hospitals around the world on short-term assignments. But when the computer system at Kijabe Hospital got “sick,” it needed a specialist of a different kind. Alan Files worked with World Medical Mission to coordinate his trip to Kenya.

“Kijabe Hospital is making some amazing steps with their computer systems, things that will allow them to provide an amazingly high level of care and keep their medical records accurate and detailed,” Alan said. “To me, it's really exciting work. It's exactly where I want to be.”

Through Team Samaritan’s Purse, athletes like Preston are raising funds for Samaritan’s Purse projects around the world by competing in marathons, cycling races, golf tournaments, triathlons, and other events.

Preston is already looking ahead to his next challenge. He’s considering the Georgia Marathon in March and even another Ironman.

“Racing with a cause gives you that joyous feeling throughout the race, whatever pain you might experience, that what you are doing is helping others,” Preston said. “I don’t think I will ever do another huge endurance race without a cause or without Team Samaritan’s Purse.”

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