Brotherly love: Young siblings tackle triathlons together

They did it again! The Aldrich brothers from Emmett, Idaho, finished their second triathlon together, just one month after their first race made headlines around the United States.

"It is incredible to see how far the story of two small boys has reached and the impact it has had on the world," the boys' mother Alissa told BabyCenter.

On July 12, Noah, 8, and Lucas, 6, tackled the YMCA Kids Triathlon — a 200-metre swim, 3-mile bike ride and a 1-mile run — in Boise together.

On August 8, the incredible duo once again put on their racing gear and tackled Emmett's Most Excellent Kids' Triathlon as a team, with Noah pushing Lucas in a buggy — and pulling him in a raft — the entire way.

Lucas has lissenchephaly, a rare disorder that affects brain development. Lucas can't walk, talk or feed himself, but his smiles can't deny his unabashed affection for his older brother.

"They definitely have a special bond, the two of them," proud dad Brian told KTVB. "You see Lucas light up so much when Noah enters the room. It just brings a smile to your face when you see the love between the boys."

"I love him. He's perfect," Noah told TODAY.

Read more about Lucas' rare neurological condition here.

The teamed-up races were Noah's idea. He trained for three months — and even learned to swim in order to compete.

"He just really wanted to do something with his brother where he could play with him," Alissa told 220triathlon. "Given Lucas’s condition, he can’t walk, he can’t talk, he’s in a wheelchair, they play together but it’s not the normal type of play for siblings. I think it was truly the desire to include his brother in something special and have fun. Perhaps that’s what so is endearing to people about the story."

The best friends crossed the finish line together, both beaming.

"The boys definitely have a special bond. Though Lucas cannot speak, I knew from his facial expression, by the way he looked at Noah, that he knew he was part of something pretty special," Alissa told the Telegraph after the first race. "While Noah was getting water and having his temperature checked after the race, Lucas followed his every move. There was a look of love and admiration for his brother that was very poignant for me to see.

"I’m so proud of the message of love, acceptance, living life without limits, and looking at the possibilities and abilities, not disabilities. Just because a child has a life-limiting illness doesn’t mean that they have to sit on the sidelines," she told BabyCenter last week.

“When your child is diagnosed with a life-limiting condition, your hopes and dreams for that child change. That day, we realized dreams that we never imagined were possible. It was probably the top moment in our lives.”

The brothers are raising money for their family's organization, Lucas House, a planned children's hospice in Boise where children with life-threatening conditions and their families will be able to receive much-needed respite.

"Pet therapy, music therapy, aquatic therapy, arts and crafts. Being a special needs mom is a blessing, but a huge challenge," Alissa said. "It'll be a chance for parents to get some respite, because often caring for a special needs child can be overwhelming."

Lean more about Lucas House — and follow the boys' racing adventures — at Lucas House's Facebook page.