PAUL IS ON TOP OF THE WORLD
DETERMINED Paul Walmsley was left feeling on top of the world after scaling Roseberry Topping – in his wheelchair.
And Paul, who lost movement in his legs in a road smash 14 years ago, believes it made him the first paraplegic to reach the summit using a manual chair.
Paul, 31, is a para rower for Teesside Rowing Club, so he’s used to straining every sinew on the water.
With a team of six friends helping him, Paul set out on his mission.
He admits parts of the climb were “extremely frightening”, with “unbelievable gradients leaving me at some points on only one wheel”.
But in just under one gruelling hour, they made it.
And Paul, who was raising money for Stockton-based young people’s training and social care provider
Vision25, admits it was a wonderful feeling.
He said: “The sense of achievement reaching the peak – wow!
“Knowing no one had achieved this in my position was overwhelming and emotional.
“With a great circle of people in your life, they can literally take your disability away. To do it while raising funds for Vision25 just made the whole experience even more exceptional.”
Paul said the Roseberry Topping climb “can be completed by anyone with an intermediate level of fitness in around 45 minutes and when you finally reach the top, the spectacular views make you feel like you are standing on the roof of the world.”
He added: “Now look at this mammoth task from a full-time wheelchair user with no movement of his legs whatsoever – no fancy wheelchair, no fancy adaptations, no power aids.
“We reached the top aided by only a small group of friends and my fiancee, in my day to day wheelchair.”
And he believes the climb was symbolic of the struggle people with disabilities can face.
He said: “Life is always going to be an uphill battle but what a way to show the local community that no matter what our circumstances are, we can all reach the top with a little help.”
He also said the idea of helping Vision25 spurred him on.
“I have, and will be, raising funds for the young adults of Vision25 to provide some positive, ambitious activities outside of our daily routine. It’s also to say a huge ‘thank you’ to the joys the group brings to me on a daily basis.”
Last month, Middlesbrough Disabled Supporters Association chairman Paddy Cronesberry was carried up Roseberry Topping in a Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team stretcher.