Hard work pays off for disabled woman in charity triathlon (From Enfield Independent)

Hard work pays off for disabled woman Anne Taylor in charity triathlon Tri Together

11:04am Tuesday 21st August 2012 in News By Hermione Wright

A disabled woman battled against the odds to come third in a charity triathlon at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Anne Taylor, who lives in Broomfield Avenue in Palmers Green, swam 400m in just 15 minutes during the competition, called Tri Together.

The 54-year-old, who is in a wheelchair, suffers from Dystonia – a condition which causes uncontrollable and sometimes painful muscle spasms due to incorrect signals from the brain.

Ms Taylor, who started training in April for the competition, said: “My arms still ache but of course I am going to feel it. I still can’t believe what I have done. I am just pleased with what I did because at last, I have done it.”

She told the Enfield Independent last week she was concerned Sunday’s soaring temperatures could affect her performance.

She said: “It was very hot but we were lucky because there was a massive thunderstorm and it cooled us down.”

She raised just over £100 for care charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, which supports thousands of people in the UK with disabilities.

Staff from the charity joined in the triathlon, with Begona Mendez cycling 15km and Robert Hambrook running 5km.

Ms Taylor intended to ride 5km in her sports wheelchair but she had to stop within minutes after she discovered one of the wheels had a puncture.

Despite the problems along the way, the team worked together to finish their course in one hour, 30 minutes and 46 seconds.

Sarah Ball, events manager at Leonard Cheshire Disability, said: “We would like to thank Anne for taking part in Tri Together to raise vital funds for Leonard Cheshire Disability’s Arnold House on The Ridgeway.

"We are very proud of her and would like to thank her for the support she has given to our charity, from taking part in events like Tri Together, to her long term campaigning with us on issues that matter to disabled people. Well done Anne!”

Ms Taylor will not allow herself much time to rest, and is training to complete a sponsored 5k wheelchair ride on September 8.