Hugo Leader, originally a Hampshire man, has raised £4,989 for Blue Apple Theatre after being injured during the Ironman Triathlon 70.3 in Aix-en-Provence, France on Sunday 21 May.
The half-ironman race consists of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run.
Hugo started with a strong lake swim, but the weather conditions were challenging for the bike ride section. The wet weather resulted in many collisions, and an hour and ten minutes into the ride, Hugo was knocked off his bike. His shoulder was injured so badly that he had to withdraw from the race and receive emergency surgery.
Despite the setback, Hugo is recovering well and intends to resume his passion for cycling as soon as he can.
Hugo chose to fundraise for Blue Apple Theatre as he saw how much his sister Torsie, who has Down's syndrome, enjoyed participating in Blue Apple Theatre's dance classes. His sister and family all travelled out to France to support him.
Hugo said: "I’m delighted to have raised so much money for Blue Apple Theatre. The work they do is remarkable and plays a large role in the lives of the people they support. I was disappointed that I had to withdraw from the race due to my shoulder injury. I am still very proud of what I have achieved and I am grateful for the support of everyone who donated to my fundraising campaign."
Blue Apple Theatre is a registered charity that provides opportunities for people with learning disabilities to participate in the performing arts, develop performing skills and to present theatre, dance, singing, and film performances to public audiences.
Despite recent progress, learning disabled people still face barriers to participation in society, suffering exclusion, stigma and isolation.
Performing builds confidence and self-esteem, encourages creative expression, promotes social integration and opportunity for connection.
The money raised by Hugo will go towards supporting Blue Apple Theatre's work. This includes providing funding for enrichment opportunities and outreach programmes.
Artistic Director Richard Conlon said: "We are enormously grateful to Hugo and his team for their incredible fundraising efforts. Their support will make a real difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities."
Hugo’s story is an inspiration to us all. It shows that anything is possible if you set your mind to it, and that even when things go wrong, you can still achieve great things.
Below: Hugo with his sister Torsie.
Hugo and his family popped in to join a rehearsal session and tell us about his Ironman fundraising adventure.
Inspired to fundraise for Blue Apple? See some ideas here and branded running bibs for you to wear in a sponsored sporting event. Please let us know so we can help you have a successful fundraiser.
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