Ashley Cain reveals the heartbreaking incentive that helps him complete gruelling physical challenges on behalf of charity set up in his late daughter’s name
He has tested the limits of his physical endurance for the charity he founded after the death of his daughter Azaylia.
And tireless campaigner Ashley Cain has revealed it is the belief that his daughter will be at the finish line that drives him when many others would give up.
Former Ex On The Beach star Cain, 33, founded the Azaylia Foundation after his eight-month-old daughter and ex-partner Safiyya Vorajee died of leukemia in April 2021.
Since then he has raised thousands of euros by taking on a series of tough challenges, including climbing Kilimanjaro and completing an Ultraman test, which consists of a gruelling 1,450km run, a 1,480km bike ride and a 1,530km sea kayak.
He is currently starring in the BBC programme Into The Danger Zone, a six-part series that sees the TV personality travel to some of the world’s most dangerous places.
Ashley Cain has revealed what drives him when many others would give up during his numerous physical challenges on behalf of the charity set up after the death of his daughter
Former Ex On The Beach star Cain, 33, set up the Azaylia Foundation after the death of his eight-month-old daughter with ex-partner Safiyya Vorajee from leukemia in April 2021
And Cain admits that it is the image of Azaylia that awaits him, that encourages him.
He told Tthe sun: ‘I had the illusion that she would be there after a challenge. Every challenge I do, I push through in the hope that I [Azaylia] ‘At the end, and I never do that.’
He added: ‘Facing the challenges and fighting the pain is the only way I can show her that I love her.
“I don’t do these things because I like the risk. I do them because nothing in this world means more to me than making a difference for children with cancer.”
Cain admits that channeling his energy into exhausting performances can also serve as a form of therapy and a way to cope with the grief of losing a child.
“I have a lot of pain, anger and trauma,” he explained. “Taking on these challenges is my form of counseling. It’s my own way of processing everything and giving myself self-esteem and confidence.”
Cain, who welcomed son Aliyas with an anonymous partner six months ago, previously told MailOnline that he suffered serious injuries as a result of his many charitable efforts.
He said, “I’ve been mentally abused, I’ve been physically abused, and I’ve been emotionally abused. I think the physical pain is the least of my worries because I think if you want it enough mentally and it means enough to you, you can always push through it and move past it.
Tireless campaigner Cain has revealed it’s her memory that keeps him going when he takes on a new challenge
Cain, who welcomed his son Aliyas six months ago with an anonymous partner, previously told MailOnline that he suffered serious injuries as a result of his charity efforts
“I’ve had multiple tears in my muscles now. I’ve run the last six marathons with stress fractures in my shins.”
Cain confessed that one day at sea he realised he was surrounded by ‘hundreds of thousands’ of jellyfish. If he paddles to Scotland, he will come face to face with killer whales and orcas.
The real dangers he faces on a daily basis have made previous experiences that upset him, such as road rage and trolling, seem no longer worth the annoyance.
He said: ‘It’s not normal, but then I start to understand what is serious. So if I come back and I see maybe a negative comment, it just doesn’t matter.
“I just think that person who made the comment probably didn’t get out of bed that day. They’re probably sitting in their house very unhappy and what they have to say has no impact on my life whatsoever.
“But I can make sure that I have an impact on my own life and on the lives of hundreds, if not millions of other people every day by doing what I do.”
He revealed that although he and Aliyas’ mother, who has not been identified, are not together, they will remain friends because they love and respect each other
He said that although he and Aliyas’ mother, whose identity has not been revealed, are no longer together, they will remain friends because they love and respect each other.
“We’re still friends and we’re co-parenting. We have a really good relationship, so that’s how it’s going to stay,” he said.
‘It’s wonderful to be able to interact like this, not just on a friendly basis, but also very well. In fact, we both have the best intentions for Aliyas.
“We both have love and respect for each other. And we both just want to be the best parents we can be. And not just enjoy our son, but let’s enjoy the most of ourselves and the most of life.
“So we do everything. It’s very comfortable. It’s very easy. And we make the best decisions based on our son, so great.”