Try Your Best Triathlon takes place Sunday at TJC

TYLER, TX (KLTV) - Kids with different abilities — from all over East Texas — will be taking place in a race Sunday, designed just for them.

Tyler Junior College will be hosting the ‘Try Your Best Triathlon’ — the first of it’s kind in East Texas.

“This is the first triathlon for special needs kids in our area,” said Amanda Storer, the faculty member responsible for bringing the race to Tyler. “We’re excited to be able to host that here and excited to be able to offer it not only for participants and their families but also for those volunteers.”

Madison Cheatum is almost nine years old and we’ll be competing in Sunday’s race.

“This will be Madison’s first time participating in a triathlon,” said Lus Hernandez, Madison’s mother. “She’s very excited. We’ve been working with her on bike riding.”

Madison was diagnosed with microcephaly at 9 months old and is on the autism spectrum.

“We’re excited for her to be a part of this,” said Hernandez. “I think it’s just going to really show what she’s capable of doing even though she has that diagnosis.”

Madison’s service coordinator, Nicole Weakley, said the event will show these kids that nothing can hold them back.

“The cool thing about this event is that it’s not about winning, it’s about succeeding and every child that participates will have an opportunity to be successful in this event,” said Weakley. “To have an event that’s specifically for these children, with these challenges, to shine and for it to be their own is a very special thing.”

The event will be held at TJC’s physical education building and is free and open to the public if anyone wants to cheer on participants.

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