Little boy finishes youth triathlon with disabled brother in tow
When eight-year-old Noah Aldrich from Idaho decided to take part in a youth triathlon, he was determined to include his little brother Lucas.
Lucas is six years old and confined to a wheelchair so it was up to Noah to push and pull his brother as he ran, swam and biked in the hot sun.
Noah had to train for three months to make sure he was strong enough to complete the youth triathlon with his younger brother in tow.
Lucas was was born with issencephaly, a rare brain malformation and is unable to walk or talk but the pair are inseparable.
"They have an amazing bond. They’re best friends and they do everything together," mom Alissa Aldrich told TODAY Parents.
"The connection and the love that they share is truly unique."
Noah swam for 200 metres pulling Lucas along in an inflatable raft. He then biked for three miles with Lucas in a trailer and, finally, ran for one mile pushing his brother in a special buggy.
Lucas weighs almost 50 pounds and his bike trailer another 40 pounds, so Noah was pulling almost 100 pounds behind him when he was on the bike.
The boys’ mother said that Lucas loved the whole experience.
"When we got him out of the water, he had the biggest grin that you would have ever seen (and) I know he enjoyed the bike and the run," said Alissa.
"Our goal with the whole thing was just to have fun. You can live life without limits."
Well done to Noah and Lucas!
