Two years ago, Jay Hewitt was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

Soon thereafter, Hewitt committed to teaching his 7-year-old daughter, Hero, about resiliency and perseverance by training and competing in an Ironman Triathlon while enduring the rigors of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

“Resiliency can’t be taught in a textbook, but it can be learned by close observation of a life dedicated to going (to) great lengths to express great love,” said Hewitt, who completed his first triathlon on Friday, a grueling 140.6-mile outdoor race of swimming, cycling and running.