Teenager with Cerebral Palsy Travels Far Frome Home For Superhero Tri Powered by Marvel

A 15-year-old Frome teenager with cerebral palsy is travelling to Windsor on Saturday 17 August to assemble with teams of other heroes, all taking part in the UK’s only mass-participation disability sports series, the Superhero Tri Powered by Marvel at Dorney Lake.

Unable to talk or move independently after being starved of oxygen at birth, Ettie Douthwaite is now a happy and determined teenager, who lives life to the full. Together with sidekicks (Mum Alison and Dad Neil) Ettie will lead one of six Irwin Mitchell teams taking part, all on a mission to promote the importance and value of sport for people with disabilities.

Now in its third year, the Superhero Tri Powered by Marvel, aims to remove some of the restrictive rules that can deter people from taking part in sporting events and gives everyone the opportunity to join forces with other heroes, with no worries over cut off times or equipment restrictions.

Ettie is taking part alongside six other teams from her solicitors Irwin Mitchell, who sponsor the event, in connection with their own Don’t Quit, Do It campaign, which raises awareness of the value of disability sports. Over 13 million people in the UK live with a disability, yet only one in eight regularly take part in any sport, despite the proven physical and mental benefits.

Speaking on behalf of Ettie, mum Alison Douthwaite said: “We are really looking forward to taking part in this year’s Superhero Tri. We have fought and won campaigns for accessible toilets so young people with disabilities can live life to the full and Ettie loves to be out and about and the Superhero Tri is a great chance for her to do that. She has been incredibly brave at coping with the limitations on her life. She has had to say goodbye to so many things and this is something she can actually say hello to instead.”

Helen Cooke, Paralegal in the Court of Protection team at Irwin Mitchell supporting the family, said: “Ettie and her family are an inspiration. Their campaigning has made life better for others living with disability in their own town and we are so proud they are leading one of our teams in the Superhero series.

“My colleagues and I have seen first-hand how disability sport is helping people do more than they thought they could. Our Don’t Quit, Do It campaign is aimed at breaking down barriers to taking part and helping people realise their potential. Ettie and her family are proof that anything is possible and will no doubt inspire others to follow their example.”

Irwin Mitchell is sending its biggest ever squad of 22 people across six teams to the 2019 Superhero Tri Powered by Marvel, including Ainsley Sinckler-Campbell from the Don’t Quit, Do It and I Am Able campaigns.

The event attracted 1,700 participants and 7,000 spectators in 2017 – numbers that nearly doubled in 2018. With the support of sponsors like Marvel and Irwin Mitchell, plus Channel 4 broadcasting a 60 minute programme on the event presented by Clare Balding, this year is expected to be the biggest Superhero Tri yet.