Wheelchair racer Stuart Bloor raising funds for Weir Archer Academy

T54 Wheelchair racer Stuart Bloor raising funds for Weir Archer Academy

T54 wheelchair racer Stuart Bloor will be raising funds for the Weir Archer Academy at Middleton Shopping Centre on Saturday 4 February.

Stuart, who lives in Alkrington with his wife, will be in the shopping centre all day and hopes to cover at least 50 miles on rollers, the wheelchair equivalent of a treadmill.

The Weir Archer Academy was set up by Paralympic athlete David Weir CBE and his coach, Jenny Archer MBE in 2013. Their dream was to give sporting opportunities of every level to those with disabilities.

Stuart is hoping to raise at least £1,000 on the day.

He said: “I’ll be happy with whatever I raise, but it would be nice to get near to the four figure mark.”

Stuart, who was born with spina bifida, has competed in wheelchair racing since 2011, which has seen him compete for Great Britain (GB) at the Anniversary Games, the Diamond League and internationals in Switzerland and Portugal.

He has won the Chorley 10k and the Wilmslow 10k and set a new record at the Great Bristol Half Marathon last year in 59:51 . He will also be taking on the London Marathon in April this year and hopes to represent GB at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. Stuart is also raising funds towards both this goal and towards a new racing chair.

Prior to wheelchair racing, Stuart used to be on the GB squad for swimming between 2003 and 2007 until he had his leg amputated in November 2007.

He said: “I did go back to swimming in 2008 and then had another injury in 2010, which is why I had to stop. That’s why I moved over to racing and I haven’t looked back since.”

To donate to the Weir Archer Academy, visit:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/finalCharityHomepage.action?charityId=1008381