Charlie’s triathlon challenge is inspired by mother’s illness

Charlie’s triathlon challenge is inspired by mother’s illness

8 May 2013

A KILLOUGH schoolboy has learnt how to cycle to take part in a one man triathlon for charity.

Charlie Power (15) has taken the challenge because his mother Julie suffers from vasculitis and after watching other members of his family raise money he finally decided that it was his turn.

Vasculitis is a group of disorders that destroy blood vessels by inflammation, with veins and arteries both being affected.

A support group was set in 2010 for people who suffer from the illness in Ireland and on Tuesday, May 28, the new charity Vasculitis Ireland Awareness will be launched at Stormont.

Charlie’s commitment started on August 10 last year. As the family were returning home from Donegal he sent a text message to a Radio Five show to say he was going to do a triathlon for the charity.

The message was read out on the show and since then Charlie has been training for the big event which will take place on Saturday, May 11, starting in Downpatrick swimming pool at 11.30am with a one kilometre swim, followed by a 40 kilometre cycle and a 10 kilometre run.

Speaking about their son Julie and Michael Power said: “Charlie is very active. He plays a lot of rugby, cricket and he has already done a 10 kilometre run in Castleward and the Titanic 10K.

“He had to learn to to cycle and he was a bit unsteady at first, but he is a strong swimmer and although he is going to be doing it all on his own, he will have people giving him support all along the way,” they said.

Michael Power is one of the family members to have raised money so far running marathons in Belfast, Dublin and Paris, but he added that he has now retired from marathon running.

Michael said: “Charlie’s mother has vasculitis and that has been his main inspiration to do the triathlon. He has seen other family members doing charity work and now he is doing it all in one.”

For further information on Vasculitis visit www.vasculitis.org.uk and to donate visit Charlie’s just giving page www.justgiving.com/Charlie-Power1/