An eight-year-old boy with cerebral palsy has proved his determination by completing his first ever triathlon.
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Despite stumbling twice on his way to the finish line, Bailey picked himself up and ran the final twenty metres of the course without his walking frame.
Bailey finished a 100-meter lake swim, a 4k bike ride and a 1.3k run before crossing the finish line Sunday at the Castle Triathlon in Yorkshire, England.
Matthews sped up as he saw the end was in sight and looked happily at the crowds who were cheering him on.
Julie said: “Bailey has always been very determined”.
“I am a practical person and even though I told Bailey we would find a way for him to reach his goals, I knew that the triathalon would be hard for able-bodied child, let alone Bailey. If we can make that easier for him, than that is what we will do”. We know how unbelievable he is but the response we have had from other people has been incredible.
“The response has been quite overwhelming”.
‘The Castle Howard Triathlon is a very hard, rough course, there is no way in the world he could do it unaided, because of how undulating and uneven the ground was.
Some parents of children with cerebral palsy even shared their own touching experiences.
“We adapted his walking frame so that it could be used outdoors and the rest is history”.
Yvonne Turner, one of the race organisers, said: “It was an fantastic sight”.
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Bailey’s proud parents said they were “overwhelmed” by the support from the crowd, who had stayed behind to watch Bailey’s fantastic finish. He contacted the race director and he made the arrangements for him to take part.
