TWO extraordinary sisters from Oxted have just completed their first triathlon – despite being almost completely blind.
Helen and Amanda Whitely are identical twins who suffer from eye conditions which means they both have only one per cent vision.
The sisters, who live in Station Road East, both suffer from conditions known as Macular Dystrophy and Nystagmus – which means their eyes deteriorate and involuntarily move from side-to side.
But last weekend, the 46-year-olds teamed up with "pilots" to guide them through the gruelling running and cycling part of the East Grinstead Sprint Triathlon.
"It was really hard for us," said Helen. "We had to completely rely on our pilots to guide us throughout the course. But they were amazing and friends and family were there cheering us on throughout it."
The twins are registered blind and walk with a white cane, but on Sunday, May 12, the duo competed over the same course as other able-bodied athletes, at the competition at the Kings Leisure Centre, in Moat Road, East Grinstead.
Amanda said: "I've always wanted to do a triathlon as I've always enjoyed running, swimming and cycling.
"A friend mentioned the East Grinstead/Sussex Triathlon to me and I thought it would be a good thing to tackle with my twin sister, Helen, who has the same condition as me."
They swam ten lengths of the pool before jumping on tandem bikes to "peddle like mad" for 11 km with their pilots.
And with legs as wobbly as jelly, they then jumped off their tandems and ran, with their guides, for the final 2.5km.
For Helen and Amanda, preparing for the event was a labour of love.
Finding their properly fitted-out tandem bikes and the two pilots at similar fitness levels to help steer took weeks in itself.
Helen added: "This was a totally new challenge for us. I think we are living proof that you can accomplish anything, no matter what your ability is.
"It was a fantastic experience and now we know what to expect, I hope we will do it again next year."
Helen finished 19th and Amanda finished 30th out of 78 participants.
The twins regularly commute into London where Amanda volunteers for Sparks, the leading children's medical research charity, and where Helen volunteers for Farm Africa, a British charity which is tackling hunger in eastern Africa.
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