Siblings, five and 13, complete triathlon in stillborn brother’s memory

At just five years old, Theodore has been waiting his whole life to win a medal. Little Theodore, who lives in Beaconsfield, has been watching his older sister Lottie run, cycle and swim “since he was a baby in a sling,” says their mother, Fiona. 

This May, Theodore joined Lottie to complete the Henley Kids Triathlon in memory of their brother Joshua, who was stillborn in 2018. An MRI scan while Fiona was eight months pregnant revealed he had toxoplasmosis – an infection that damaged his brain and skin.  

Lottie started triathlons in 2019, as a way to feel close to Joshua while raising funds for Chestnut Tree House, the children’s hospice that cared for the family in the days after Joshua died, enabling them to say goodbye in the way that was right for them. This year, the siblings raised a brilliant £585 – taking the family’s overall total to almost £2,500. 

“To begin with, Lottie struggled quite badly,” says Fiona. “She’s always been active from a very young age, so we encouraged her to use that energy to help other children. This has helped her a lot and it’s a way to process things – she says sport and fundraising help her switch off and feel calmer. She still gets upset now and then, but it’s not like it was in the beginning.” 

All the training has been therapeutic for Theodore too, says Fiona. “He has ADHD and struggles to sit still. He wanted to be like Lottie, so he’s thrown himself into learning to swim and ride his bike – he was so determined.” 

While Theodore never met his older brother, he’s been visiting Chestnut Tree House all his life. Although the family have relocated to Buckinghamshire, they still visit Chestnut Tree House together on Joshua’s birthday to reflect in the memorial garden. 

“We like to visit the place where Joshua spent his time on Earth,” says Fiona. “While we were there, the staff at Chestnut Tree House were very supportive to my older children, spending time with them doing arts and crafts and explaining things.” 

Lottie remembers this and wants her fundraising to help Chestnut Tree House to support more children and families. This year’s triathlon presented some challenges, including very high temperatures, but Lottie took it all in her stride – cheering on Theodore in his race before competing herself. “She was so encouraging and took Theodore out for little training runs in the approach to the event,” says Fiona. “She was really proud of him for doing it.” 

If you, like Theodore and Lottie, would like to help Chestnut Tree House support more families, please donate to our charity