TRISH Deykin, the triathlete from Milton Combe, received the cheers and applause of fellow graduates when she was awarded the University of Plymouth's Sporting Colour.

The triathlete, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and was the first woman to finish at the last month's Tavy 7, gave a brief speech in which she encouraged all present to pursue their goals as nothing is impossible.

Trish grew up in Milton Combe and moved to Sussex where she attended university and became a scenes of crime officer for Sussex Police. She was diagnosed with MS in 2005 and at that time she was a promising triathlete but on diagnosis was advised to give up racing.

In 2008, still living in Sussex, Trish saw an advert for the Burgess Hill Triathlon, entered and won. This set her back on the road to racing. She started training and set her sights on international competition. She qualified for the European championships in Ireland in 2010 and Spain in 2011 and ran both times.

Trish's health deteriorated in 2012 and she retired from the police and moved back to Milton Combe.

Despite her setbacks Trish decided that 2013 was going to be 'her year'. Due to her health she changed from Olympic distance to sprint distance triathlon (750metre swim, 20 kilometre cycle ride and 5 kilometre run). She won gold in the British Championships and silver in the European Championships in Turkey. Having qualified for the World Championships in Hyde Park she worked hard and won gold in her class and came six overall in September 2013.

Val Bolitho, Trish's mum, told the Times: 'Trish has no personal coach or trainer and no significant financial backing. She managed to get to the events this year wholly due to the generosity of local people who pledged what they could afford and through local businesses providing her with clothing and other requirements.

'She never lets her MS get in her way although she sometimes experiences a great deal of pain and fatigue.

'This year she was awarded University of Plymouth's Sporting Colour, which received cheers and applause from the other graduates. She gave a brief speech in which she encouraged all present to pursue their goals as nothing is impossible.'