Princess Beatrice raises awareness for dyslexia through triathalon

Princess Beatrice has been raising awareness for dyslexia by completing a triathalon-style challenge, ending on the summit of Mount Etna in Sicily.

In order to raise money for Big Change, Beatrice, 28, became the first British Royal to complete a triathlon. She celebrated on Mount Etna, an active volcano, with Sir Richard Branson and his children Sam and Holly, who also participated in the challenge.

After swimming 3,300m biking 140km, running a half marathon and hiking up mount Etna I finally made it. @strivechallenge @bigchange_ pic.twitter.com/ty2nuci4M4

— Princess Beatrice of York (@yorkiebea) September 29, 2016

Beatrice, who has run the London Marathon in the past, took part of the Virgin Strive Challenge triathlon and “made it”, as she wrote in her Twitter account @yorkiebea.

The tweet detailed her 3.3km swim, 140 km cycle, a half-marathon and then a hike up the mountains to complete the challenge.

Princess Beatrice hiked up Mount Etna to raise money for Big Change. She was seen with Richard Branson pic.twitter.com/eNWARDdZMv

— RoyalistSupporter (@ProRoyalFamily) September 30, 2016

It began with a 5-day hike from the base of the Matterhorn in the Alps; they then cycled from the Italian Alps to the south of Tuscany, before swimming from Italy to the island Sicily, across the Straits of Messina. That was not all: the team then cycled over 100km up through the foothills of Mount Etna. Finally, they took on a 14km vertical trail run, to the mid-point of Mount Etna.

The team wanted to raise £1.5 million for Big Change, a social impact accelerator that helps young people thrive in life, not just school and exams. So far they have £989,251 according to the Virgin Strive Challenge 2016 web page.

The Princess told the Press Association: “The dyslexia battle is something that everyone goes through everyday but I hope that in the future we can create a place where it doesn’t matter if you’ve got dyslexia or if you don’t – where the school environment is a safe and secure place for young people to thrive, not just in exams.”

Follow the STRIVE story from the Matterhorn to Mount Etna #WeSTRIVE for Big Change pic.twitter.com/jjEoyxKTnT

— Strive Challenge (@strivechallenge) September 30, 2016

“It’s about ensuring that young people have the tools that they need to be able to take on work and life and education and families – that all rolls into one.”

Sarah, Duchess of York, also tweeted praising her daughter and explaining her pride.

@yorkiebea #mum is sooo happy what an achievement for @bigchange_ and for @strivechallenge @TheDukeOfYork pic.twitter.com/TSeYeUQnf3

— Sarah Ferguson (@SarahTheDuchess) September 29, 2016