Disabled woman raises £3,000 for charity with triathlon

A WOMAN from Wargrave with cerebral palsy has completed a triathlon and raised more than £3,000 to support young disabled adults in the area.

Kitty Holmes, 21, swam 150m, cycled 2,000m and walked 150m at Braywick Park and leisure centre in Maidenhead.

She said: “Swimming is my best thing and I enjoy triking. Walking was the hardest part because it can pull my legs and also because I did it last when I was tired.”

Ms Holmes, who is a photographer and film-maker, had been training for the triathlon with her father, Jasper.

He said: “Kitty did fantastically. She really pushed herself in all three sections. In the swimming she did her fastest time over that distance and she could have gone on but she needed to save some energy for the next two sections. In the triking she adjusted to the unfamiliar conditions and quickly found her pace.

“The walking was always going to be the hardest part for her and she was hot and tired but she stayed determined and rallied for the last 10 metres, which was the most impressive part of her performance.”

Ms Holmes raised £3,040 for Building for the Future Plus, which was launched in 2021 with the aim of enabling young disabled adults who have left school or college to work towards achieving their ambitions.

It is part of the charity Building for the Future, which supports young people and children with additional needs and was founded by her mother Jane in 2007. Mrs Holmes said: “We were completely blown away by the number of people who supported Kitty, many of them complete strangers.

“It was so lovely that people appreciated her efforts and we are so grateful. It wasn't possible to send personal thanks to everyone who donated because they didn't leave contact details or they gave anonymously, so we would like to send a huge thank-you to everyone.

“Fundraising is challenging for every charity at the moment so efforts like these and those who support them are especially appreciated.”

Ms Holmes said: “I am so grateful and amazed at how generous everyone has been. Thanks so much.”

To donate, visit
www.justgiving.com/page/kitty-
holmes-triathlon