An evening with Shays Triathlon. £50k raised and counting.

·47 min·4 clips

15-year-old Shea has raised over £50,000 for charity through triathlons and football matches, starting with a simple lap around Hillsborough Park.

The episode opens with host Matt Johnson introducing Shea, a 15-year-old athlete and fundraiser known as Shea's Triathlon. Shea discusses the recent Sheffield Wednesday season, praising players like Shea Charles and Barry Bannon, and analyzing E.K. Ugbo's performance. The conversation shifts to Shea's charity work, which started when he was young with a lap around Hillsborough Park, raising £100 for Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice. He explains his cousin Eva has a chromosome deletion, inspiring his initial efforts, but his focus broadened to help all children at the hospice after learning about their daily operations. Shea details various fundraising activities, including triathlons in bunny outfits, walks, swims, stalls, and charity football matches. He recounts how former chairman Dejphon Chansiri matched a £6,000 donation, bringing the total to £12,000. Shea describes unexpected support from Sheffield Wednesday players: Barry Bannon follows him on Instagram, reposts his fundraisers, and invited him to his house for tea. Goalkeeper Devis Vasquez secretly gave him hats and gloves during matches and asked about his charity work. Other players like Piers Charles, Cameron Dawson, and James Beadle also engaged with him. Shea discusses his mindset, emphasizing he doesn't overthink challenges and is motivated by seeing kids happy. He advises others to start small and focus on helping people rather than personal pride. Recently, Shea collaborated with Barry Bannon and Dean Henderson to fundraise for defibrillators, placing them at grassroots football venues. He mentions upcoming events like a charity football match and more triathlons. When asked about dream fundraising partners, Shea picks Callum Patterson for fun and Cristiano Ronaldo for athleticism. Looking ahead, Shea sees himself doing half marathons, marathons, and exploring new sports in five years. The episode concludes with Shea sharing his social media handles and a call for donations.

As heard by us

A Sheffield Wednesday fan's triathlon fundraiser becomes a warm story of signed shirts, club support, and a cup of tea.

Matt Johnson's conversation with Shea frames a Sheffield Wednesday fan project as a story of choosing the tougher route and making a cause visible.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

For a Sheffield Wednesday listener curious how Shea's fundraising grew from triathlon grit into matchday generosity.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Wednesday 'Til I Die Podcast