A FAMILY took part in a paratriathlon to show its support for the charity which helped them after their son had a brain haemorrhage.

Jack Kick, 18, whose family come from Bridport, suffered a brain haemorrhage in July 2009 when he was just 12-years-old.

He was admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital and had to stay there for several months.

After this he was referred to the Children’s Trust rehabilitation centre in Tadworth, Surrey for intense rehabilitation.

Jack had to regain basic skills – including talking, eating and walking.

Jack stayed with the Children’s Trust for just under a year before he came home to “a very different world.”

To thank the trust for their help, Jack along with his dad Mark and sister Lauren took on the paratriathlon at Dorney Lake in Windsor.

Paratriathlon offers an opportunity for athletes with recognised impairments to take part in the demanding triathlon.

On Jack’s team, Jack took on the run, his dad Mark completed the swim and his sister Lauren completed the bike section.

Despite his early trauma Jack has also recently completed a diploma in Sports Science and will return to college to complete his Level Two in the Diploma this year.

Their fundraising effort already stands at almost £450 and they are still welcoming donations for the challenge.

Dad Mark said he enjoyed the day and raising money for the trust. He said: “It was a fantastic day. 

“My son chose to raise money for the Children’s Trust.

“We saw lots of people from the trust and we all got a medal.

“It was the perfect opportunity to give something back to this amazing place.”

Mark said he couldn’t praise the work the trust does for children with brain injuries highly enough after what it achieved with Jack.

He said: “The Children’s Trust is a very special place, there is so much love and happiness from doctors to the car assistants.

“Some of the children at the trust will be cared for forever.

“Jack was lucky to be able to recover enough to lead a normal life.”

Despite suffering from poor balance, low vision and only having short-term memory, Jack has been fortunate to be able to live a normal life.

Speaking about the help the trust gave him, Jack said: “The Children’s Trust helped me to regain basic skills that I had lost due to my brain injury.

“Now it’s time to give something back to these wonderful people that help children with brain injuries.”

The Children’s Trust offers both residential and community-based rehabilitation services for young people and runs the UK’s largest paediatric residential rehabilitation service.

If you want to donate towards Jack’s Children’s Trust fundraising go to www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com.