Well done, Hannah — what an extraordinary achievement!

On Sunday 31 August, Leeds’ own community dynamo Hannah Corne — the woman who leads M2  — took on her home-city Ironman and did it. What a day. What a statement. What a leader.

If you’ve crossed paths with Hannah, you already know two things: she shows up for others, and she doesn’t back down. A Leeds mum, runner, and tireless champion for girls’ confidence, Hannah turned the #HanCanIronman campaign into a rallying cry to transform adversity into action — and on race day, she delivered.

Why Hannah inspires

In February 2019, Hannah was diagnosed with uveal (ocular) melanoma and ultimately lost her left eye. Five years later, scans in April 2024 revealed stage IV liver metastases. Doctors warned the average prognosis was around a year — but statistics were never going to write Hannah’s story. She pursued chemo saturation treatment and set her sights on the thing that lit her up: taking on a full Ironman to raise money and awareness for Ocular Melanoma UK (OMUK).

That decision sparked a wave of coverage and support — from local newsrooms to the OMUK community — cheering on a woman who refuses to be defined by a diagnosis.

Roots in empowering girls

Long before triathlon training, Hannah was building confidence in young people. Through Mini Mermaid/M2, she’s championed movement and mindfulness so girls can find their voice — work that Jane Tomlinson Appeal has been proud to support over the years. That same DNA of resilience powered her Ironman journey — and it absolutely shone on race day.

Race day: more than a finish line

This summer, Leeds hosted its Ironman, and Hannah turned it into something bigger: a statement of hope, a fundraiser for research and patient support, and a living example of “do hard things, together.” From the first peddle to the final steps, she showed exactly what courage with community looks like.

Hannah, from everyone at the Jane Tomlinson Appeal: congratulations. We’re in awe of you.

Thank you, team #HanCanIronman

To every donor, volunteer, training partner, cheer squad member, and the incredible M2 community — thank you for lifting Hannah and OMUK higher. Your noise on the course, your messages, and your generosity made a tangible difference.

Keep backing Hannah

• Support Ocular Melanoma UK. Hannah’s fundraising continues to help a small but mighty charity push for better treatments and ensure patients never feel alone.

• Share her story. Keep the hashtags going: #HanCanIronman #EyeOnHan #CornaDoStrikesBack #IronCanHan

• Send encouragement. Your messages matter on the tough treatment days as much as they did on race day.

• Move with her. Log a run, ride, or swim in solidarity and post it with the hashtags.

What’s next

Hannah will keep sharing updates on treatment, advocacy, and the community building around this mission. Keep an #EyeOnHan for whatever challenge she dreams up next — because this was never about one race. It’s about refusing to sit out life and inviting all of us to join in.

If you needed a nudge today, let it be this: when life gets heavy, move toward the thing that gives you purpose — and bring people with you. That’s the Hannah way.