Family completes triathlon to fund new wheelchair swing in Norwood garden

A Jewish woman with cerebral palsy and her family have completed a triathlon to raise funds for a fully accessible adult swing, which she will be able to use while in her wheelchair.

Stephanie Harris, 33, who has cerebral palsy, has complex needs, including visual impairment.

For the past nine years, she has been living with three other young people with disabilities at a Norwood home in Barnet, where pioneering assistive technology enables them to live independently.

Stephanie joined her parents, Judith and Nigel Harris, and fellow team member Lisa to take part in the Dorney Lake Triathlon earlier this month, which involved swimming 750m, cycling 20km and running 5km.

Stephanie participated in tandem during the cycling challenge, and Judith pushed Stephanie in her wheelchair while she ran round the course.

A park swing for disabled people in a wheelchairGetty Images

During the swimming challenge, Lisa swam while tugging Stephanie and Judith in a boat. For this part of the triathlon, time wasn’t the focus, said Judith afterwards. Rather, completing it “in an inclusive way as a team” was key to their success.

So far, Team Stephanie – or Superhero Tri, Powered by Marvel 2026 – have raised nearly £13,000 towards the swing.

On their JustGiving page, they wrote: “At [Stephanie’s home], we have created a fully accessible garden, a space providing a relaxing sensory environment full of colours and scents, where fruits and vegetables are grown to encourage healthy living and responsibility.

“This next phase is to raise vital funds for Norwood and allow us to purchase a much talked about accessible adult swing, strong enough to take each resident in their wheelchairs. A tried and tested true sensory experience.” They wrote that outdoor musical instruments were also on the wish list.

Stephanie Harris supporting the team at the Dorney Lake Triathlon (Photo: Norwood)[Missing Credit]

Vicky Weir, who is the head of Norwood’s London services, told the JC: “An accessible wheelchair swing would make a meaningful difference for people by ensuring users can enjoy the same simple, joyful experiences, rather than watching from the sidelines.

“It supports inclusion, independence and wellbeing, while also offering valuable movement and sensory stimulation that can help with balance, spatial awareness and regulation. Most importantly, it would create opportunities for fun, connection and shared memories in a safe and accessible environment.”

Stephanie Harris on the front of the tandem bike (Photo: Norwood)[Missing Credit]

Judith, who lives in Finchley, praised the support the family had received from Norwood. “The early years were really traumatic, but Norwood was our lifeline, and still is. Living independently is giving Stephanie the confidence to let her sense of humour and mischievous side come to the fore.”

This wasn’t the first time Stephanie’s family had taken up a Norwood challenge. Previously, Stephanie and Judith took part in a 100km cycle ride in Israel, on a specially adapted Pino bike.

To donate to Team Stephanie, go to: justgiving.com/page/judith-harris-23 or click here

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Norwood

Family completes triathlon to fund new wheelchair swing in Norwood garden

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