An inspirational Harold Hill woman who was told she would never walk again has defied the doctors by finishing a TRIATHLON at the weekend.

Nicole Evans, whose cerebral palsy means she depends on a wheelchair to get around, completed the three-discipline race – which included a 400m swim in the Thames – on Saturday (September 22).

The 25-year-old used her chair in the 10km biking stage after being unable to find a hand-cycle in time.

Nicole said: “I’ve never propelled myself that distance before in a competitive race and I completed this part of the race in two hours and 35 minutes which was good going, all things considered.

“The swim in the Thames has got to be the most freezing cold bath I’ve ever taken in my life!”

Nicole, who was the first person in Havering with a physical disability to study GCSE PE, has had cerebral palsy since birth and was diagnosed with degenerative muscle disease proximal myopathy in 2010.

She was told she would never walk again but this year completed the London Marathon in four days using a walking frame, after working with personal trainer Andrew Hole since 2011.

Nicole now hopes to raise �350 for Scope, which supports those with cerebral palsy, after completing Saturday’s challenge - in and around east London’s Royal Victoria Dock - in just over four hours.

“I am literally beaming from ear to ear,” she said. “It was the best experience of my life to date.

“The final stage – the 2.5km run, or in my case walk - was probably the only phase of the triathlon I was 100 per cent comfortable with.

“Talk about role reversal: 17 months ago the wheel would have been my greatest area of competency!”

To donate go to: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/walk_beyond