Ex-soldier Richard Heather secures exclusive place in first ever Unlimited Great North Wheelchair Event

Richard Heather suffered lower spinal injury serving in the British Army

Richard Heather, 50, from Rochdale, is one of only five people selected to take part in the first ever Unlimited Great North Wheelchair Event on Saturday (9 September).

Richard suffered spinal nerve damage whilst serving in the British Army and is currently receiving treatment for Tourette’s syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder. For Richard, his selection represents a major victory after many years of dissatisfaction.

Launched by The Unlimited Company from Simplyhealth and The Great Run Company, the event takes place in Newcastle the day before The Simplyhealth Great North Run.

The Unlimited Company invited people to apply for the chance to be fitted with a racing wheelchair and to have the opportunity to train with Paralympic coach Rick Hoskins before taking part in the one mile event.

Richard said: “I have become very frustrated over the years. I have a disability which means a lot of people think I can’t do sport but I do not want to let that hold me back.

“The cost of a racing chair is a crazy amount of money and I have never been able to afford one. I did my first Para Triathlon in Leeds on the 10 June and had to do the run part in my day chair which was horrible.

“I have wanted to take part in The Great North Run for many years and I have finally got the chance to do it. It’s made my dreams come true at last.”

Richard will line up with four other participants on the start line of The Unlimited Great North Wheelchair Event. Their ages range from 13 to 66 and Richard is hoping that the event can inspire more disabled people to get access and take part in sport.

He said: “It is great to be taking part in this with a new group of people. We are all starting from square one and learning together. It is about getting more disabled people active and into sport.

“I have been on both sides of the fence, having served in the British Army for five years and been mega fit, before suffering my injury and being disabled for many years. It seems much easier for able bodied people to access sport. They can find sponsorship more easily, have better training facilities, and do not need the same level of equipment as people in my situation do.”

Richard believes the launch of this event could be the catalyst for further initiatives to encourage participation in disability sport and to increase people’s activity levels in general.

He said: “It is great that The Unlimited Company from Simplyhealth, through their millions moving campaign, have launched this event to get people more fit and healthy. I hope the mile we are doing helps get the ball rolling and more big companies follow suit.”

Richard has always been interested in sport and fitness and recalls being inspired by watching the Paralympics and watching athletes such as David Weir and Tanni Grey-Thompson. He is excited at the prospect of being trained by a coach of the calibre of Rick Hoskins.

He added: “I am very grateful to Rick for investing his time to train us for the event and will have to find a way to thank him.

“I only found out recently that we have got just eight weeks to train for the event but everyone is really positive. I’m looking forward to the challenge and cannot wait.

“It has taken me 21 years to get hold of one of these chairs but if you have the willpower then you can do it.

“I have already lost a stone and am getting used to the racing chair so I hope to do the full 13-mile Great North Run in 2018 or 2019. I also plan to do the John O’Groats to Land’s End challenge next year – I must be crazy.”