All four of us have made the GB team in biathle and/or triathle!

For the European championships Evie (age 11), Chris and I have qualified for the biathle, and Lilly (age 13) and I have qualified for the triathle.

For the World championships all four of us have qualified for biathle. Lilly, Evie and I have qualified for triathle.

Qualifying to represent GB is amazing… but Lilly and Evie have stories that make it even more special.

First off Lilly… Just over a year ago Lilly was suffering with back pain… exactly a year ago we found out why. Lilly was diagnosed with severe scoliosis and the curve was pressing on a nerve causing pain. Since diagnosis Lilly has learnt exercises to try to help straighten her spine, or at the very least stop it from progressing… she barely feels discomfort anymore.

Just before her diagnosis, Lilly set her self a goal. She wanted to represent GB in biathle (run swim run) or triathle (run shoot and swim). The diagnosis was a bit of a shock, and she was advised to cut her swim training down for multiple reasons. But that didn’t stop her from finding ways to train just as hard out of water to make up for less pool time.

Recently she did three of the four qualifiers… unfortunately she was ill for the biathle and just about recovered for the triathles. Sickness may have messed with her plans for the European biathle qualifier, but she just clung on for the triathle making it in the team for both the Europeans and Worlds.

The biathle race was a knock in confidence… but once fully well again she got back into her training… at the National biathle championships (which was also the World championships qualifier) she came second!! This is an automatic place on the GB team!! Lilly is over the moon!

Evie’s story… I thought this was going to be a simpler one… and to start it was. Evie made the GB team last year. She was fully fit for the European qualifiers this year. She made the team for the European biathle and the World triathle.

In the run up to the World biathle qualifier Evie ended up in hospital. Heart rate was at 220 and wouldn’t come down. They gave her a drug to briefly stop her heart so it could reset. She was given the thumbs up to continue training and racing… including the qualifier a week later. I was still in shock, and felt pretty rubbish, from everything… so I had no expectations on Evie to perform that day… she smashed it and won the National title and automatic place on the GB team going to the World championships - in honesty I don’t know how she did it!

There is also a story for Chris… he has refused to take part up til this year! But the girls won him over to step into an uncomfortable territory and race! And they couldn’t be prouder! Chris has made the biathle team for both the European and World championships!!

Our next hurdle is finding a way to get us all to Turkey (European championships) and South Africa (World championships) to compete… we are hoping to raise some money to help cover flights, accommodation, kit and race fees! We think this will be over £2000 each.

In their bid to raise funds Lilly and Evie are offering to do simple chores like washing cars and mowing lawns, and baking dog treats in return for a donation.

The girls would like to donate 10% of what we raise to get us to the Europeans and World championships to Scoliosis Support and Research, and British Heart Foundation.

To follow the girls with their training and events please find us on instagram - wilkiegirlsdosport.

Thanks for reading… and a massive thanks for any support you can give.

UPDATE: the funds so far have helped go towards…

Race fees (Europeans and Worlds) £920

Accommodation (Turkey and South Africa) £1750

Flights and transfers (Turkey and South Africa) £5700

Kit £1245