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SINGAPORE: Many take part in marathons and triathlons for personal satisfaction or just to keep healthy.
But one man will be taking part in his first triathlon for a completely different reason.
Anthony Payne is helping to raise funds for the Asian Women's Welfare Association School - a school for disabled children.
Anthony is taking part in the triathlon together with his 10-year-old son. Ralph Payne is just like any other kid - restless, playful and full of energy. But that is where the similarities end.
He has severe learning difficulties and is also unable to walk without help. His condition is so rare that no doctor has been able to diagnose his disorder.
But that is not going to prevent his father from helping him take part in - of all races - a triathlon!
Anthony said: "Somebody sent me a video of Team Hoyt from YouTube... It was absolutely inspiring. A man had so much love for his son and would go to such lengths to get his son to be able to compete in events such as the Ironman, which is an incredible event to do."
In the triathlon on April 19, after completing the swimming segment, Anthony will be running while pushing Ralph along. And for the cycling leg of the race, he has modified a bicycle he had bought from Denmark.
When the Payne family decided to move to Singapore 15 months ago, one of their main concerns was whether they could find a proper school for Ralph. When they were in the UK, Ralph attended school full time five days a week. Fortunately, they managed to find a school - the Asian Women's Welfare Association School.
The father and son team are taking part in the triathlon not just to raise money for the school. Their aim is to change perceptions in Singapore about disabled children.
Anthony said: "What I've been told is there's an element of shame in having a disabled kid or maybe the families feel they are protecting the child from people staring or so on. They feel the child is safer being looked after at home.
"I happen to disagree with that. Ralph loves being out and about. He loves nothing more than going to Vivocity with us in his push chair or going out on the bike with me and taking part in family days out."
Anthony has been training only for the last two months and it is a physically demanding challenge not many would be keen to take on.
But for Anthony, he said: "When I'm out with the push chair and the bike, he (Ralph) looks back at me and gives me an absolutely beaming smile and that's all I need."
A simple enough reason to overcome even the most impossible odds.
To support their cause, you can go to the website at www.donation.org.sg.
- CNA/ir
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