Wheelchair racer Richard says his dream has come true
AN ex-soldier from Rochdale says his ‘dreams have come true at last’ after being selected to take part in a new wheelchair Great North Run.
Richard Heather, 50, injured his spine while serving in the Army and also suffers from Tourette’s syndrome and post traumatic stress disorder.
He is one of only five people selected for the first ever Unlimited Great North Wheelchair Event, which has been organised by Simplyhealth in partnership with The Great Run Company, and takes place in Newcastle on Saturday, September 9, the day before the Great North Run.
He has been given a racing wheelchair and has been training with Paralympic coach Rick Hoskins in preparation for the one mile challenge.
Richard says being selected for the event represents a major victory for him after years of struggle.
He said: “I’ve become very frustrated over the years. I have a disability which means a lot of people think I can’t do sport but I don’t want to let that hold me back.
“The cost of a racing chair is a crazy amount of money and I’ve never been able to afford one. I did my first para triathlon in Leeds on June 10 and had to do the run part in my day chair which was horrible.
“I’ve wanted to take part in the Great North Run for many years and I’ve finally got the chance to do it. It’s made my dreams come true at last.”
His fellow participants are aged between 13 and 66, and Richard says he is hoping the event will inspire more disabled people to take part in sport.
“It’s great to be taking part in this with a new group added.
“We are all starting from square one and learning together. It’s about getting more disabled people active and into sport.
“I’m very grateful to Rick for investing his time to train us for the event and will have to find a way to thank him.”
And Richard does not plan to stop at this event – of people,” he he is planning to take on the 13-mile Great North Run in either 2018 or 2019, and next year he is hoping to travel the length of the country in a hand cycle.
“I’ve already lost a stone and am getting used to the racing chair,” he said. “I plan to do the John O’Groats to Land’s End challenge next year – I must be crazy!”