JOYFUL Jack Gray smiles as he crosses the triathlon finish line.

Not only did the four year-old complete the sporting event, comprising a swim, cycle ride and run - but did so in the face of speech and mobility challenges he has battled since he was a baby.

Jack, of Copford, has global developmental delay, as a result of having infantile spasms.

These spasms are a form of epilepsy - fits which occur due to a brain injury.

Yet those closest to him knew taking part in the aptly named Superhero Tri would be right up his street.

Mum Leah, 38, said: “We first heard about it from his physio.

“They mentioned it earlier on this year and it seemed like a target for him to achieve.”

Held at Eton College, the triathlon was specifically for people with disabilities.

Participants could either fly solo or team up with family and friends, to do as much or as little as they wished, with as much or as little support as they needed.

For Jack, this involved a 150-metre swim in a lake, a three-kilometre cycle ride and a one-kilometre run with the help of close relatives.

Leah explained: “I did the swim with him as well as my sister, Zena.

“Jack had a normal rubber ring around his middle and there were a lot of a kayaks in the water for support for everyone.

“We got out of the water, did a change out of his wetsuit into normal clothes and he went off on his trike, which was then pushed.”

Jack’s dad Michael and uncle Andre pushed Jack around the course on the specially adapted, £1,900 piece of equipment which the family has been fundraising for.

Finally, Leah and Michael carried Jack for the run but not without a momentous finish.

“We got him to do the odd couple of steps to cross the finish line,” said Leah.

Also cheering Jack on during the event were other family members andstaff from Kids Physio works, in Little Braxted, which Jacks attends.

Leah said: “It was emotional. Everyone was shedding a tear when he went over the line.”

Completing the event was another huge milestone for Jack who graduated from Stepping Stones play and learn group in Colchester this summer.

Thanks to the support from its staff, Jack is now gearing up to start Southview special needs school in Witham.

Leah and Michael don’t know for certain what caused Jack’s brain injury but tests when he was four months revealed he suffered infantile spasms.

Jack has undergone occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy.

Jack communicates by looking at what he wants.

Leah said he is making progress all the time and the aim is for him one day to walk unaided and to talk.

Jack’s parents bought the specially adapted trike which he used in the triathlon but are continuing to raise money to pay for it and for his therapy.

The trike will help to strengthen Jack’s leg muscles and will encourage him to gain independence because when he is able to manoeuvre it without being pushed, he can choose where he travels.

To support the fundraising appeal, donate at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/leah-gray-1.