Sam Barringer, a 28-year-old living with severe quadriplegic cerebral palsy, donned the mantle of Marvel’s The Hulk and tore through his first-ever triathlon with the help of five carer “sidekicks”. 

The superhero-themed event in Windsor, dedicated to people with disabilities, became a mission for Sam that went beyond personal achievement.

His GoFundMe page has already raised more than £6,000 for the Ratidzo Trust, a charity in Sanyati, Zimbabwe, with many donations coming from Haslemere residents. Sanyati is a deeply impoverished area, where those with disabilities face even greater hardships. The funds will support sustainable income-generating projects and healthcare for disabled individuals in the community.

Sam’s mum, Claire, said: “I can’t imagine how different Sam’s life would be if he lived in Sanyati. People with disabilities there have no support at all.”

Sam, who lives in Godalming, visits The Grove, a day centre in Hindhead every weekday. 

“The Grove gives Sam his independence, it is his thing,” said Claire. “And that is what the triathlon has given him too. It is so amazing, years ago I never would have thought this was possible.”

Three carers, or sidekicks, swam 750 metres in Dorney Lake on Sam’s behalf. Claire, watching from the sidelines, said: “It was incredible – they wore t-shirts with Sam’s face over their wetsuits, so when they came up for breath, it looked like Sam was in the water.”

Next was the 20km cycle. With an adapted bike that carried his wheelchair, Sam sped around Dorney Lake to the cheers of the crowd. The 5km run followed, with Sam pushed by his sidekicks crossing the finish line in his wheelchair.

“I’ve never seen Sam smile so much crossing that finish line,” said Claire. “This whole event has had many crying moments.”

There’s still time to donate to Sam’s GoFundMe at: https://tinyurl.com/SamforSanyati