A five-year-old girl with cerebral palsy has completed a major triathlon, months after undergoing major spinal surgery, leaving her family filled with pride. Maeve Bisset took part in the UK's only mass-participation disability sports event at Dorney Lake in Windsor on August 15, dressed as a superhero alongside her parents, Dan Bisset, 37, and Lindsey Troy.
Maeve's journey began when her parents first sought medical advice around her first birthday, as she was not reaching developmental milestones like crawling and taking her first steps. Lindsey trusted her maternal instinct and pushed for further medical assessments, which eventually led to a formal diagnosis in late 2022. The NHS defines cerebral palsy as a movement and coordination condition caused by brain abnormalities that occur before, during, or shortly after birth.
Diagnosis and Early Challenges
Hospital doctors initially carried out a brain scan in 2022 and told the family the results were clear. However, less than two weeks later, a follow-up call confirmed that the first review had "missed something quite significant". Doctors discovered Maeve had suffered a brain injury known as periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), which the NHS describes as damage to the white matter surrounding the brain's ventricles caused by a lack of blood and oxygen, frequently leading to cerebral palsy.
Dan described the moment of diagnosis as feeling "like a punch in the stomach". "At her age, it was kind of unknown how she would develop... It was an unknown journey to go into," he told PA's Rachael Davies. "We didn't know about cerebral palsy, and that became our education and our journey, really, with understanding what you can do, the limitations, and how to push and develop and strengthen."
Daily Physio and Surgery
Because every case varies, medical staff could not predict how the condition would affect Maeve over time. Her parents began exploring different equipment, using frames, balance bikes, and daily physical therapy sessions to build her core strength. "Every day is physio, every day is stretching, every day is trying to push that little bit further," Dan said. "Luckily, with Maeve's temperament, she's up for that challenge. She's quite stubborn in a way, which is great for this. She's doing really well, and it's just trying to knock down that next milestone, really, for her. There's always something to work on."
In December 2025, Maeve had a procedure called selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery, which her father compared to pushing a big red button on her development. The operation required her to relearn basic tasks, including sitting up, crawling, and walking again. According to the NHS, SDR surgery cuts abnormal nerve rootlets within the spinal canal to reduce leg stiffness. The reduction in muscle tightness gave Maeve improved mobility, allowing her to attend mainstream school four days a week alongside therapy.
Triathlon Triumph
Maeve shares a passion for fitness with her parents, who regularly compete in open water swimming, triathlons, and long-distance running. The family travelled to Dorney Lake on August 15 to participate in the Superhero Series event, dressing up in superhero costumes alongside family friend and two-time Paralympic medallist Bethy Doran, who also lives with cerebral palsy. Participants completed swimming, cycling, and running sections either individually or as part of a collective team effort.
"The atmosphere was so supportive, it was great to see so many people pushing themselves," Dan said. "Seeing Maeve cross the finish line under her own steam was incredible. Maeve also managed to do a tiny stint on her 'big bike' with no stabilisers or support for the first time ever. After her surgery in December, to think she would be doing a triathlon in August was just unimaginable. We were so proud to see her giving her all to get that medal."
"Maeve's biggest achievement was the run. She was so tired by this point, but she wouldn't stop. She's asked to do it next year, so we could have an athlete on our hands!"
For Dan, seeing his daughter participate in an inclusive event where people use whatever adaptive equipment they need brought immense satisfaction. He noted how wonderful it was to celebrate how far the family had come over the past year. "I think it's good to see that there are events like this that are inclusive," he said. "Having done those kinds of events myself in the past, it's just a really fun day out. And to share that with Maeve – a year ago we never thought we'd be in this situation at all. We're just very lucky and proud to be where we are now."
