A British athlete has turn into the primary particular person in a wheelchair to finish the World Marathon Challenge, finishing seven marathons in seven days, in all seven continents.
Darren Edwards started at a Russian air base in Antarctica on 31 January, earlier than flying to Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza in Brazil and Miami.
The 32-year-old battled temperatures of minus 20 and winds of as much as 60mph to complete his first marathon in 5 hours and 50 minutes.
Mr Edwards, from Shropshire, sped up because the week went on and accomplished his remaining race in two-and-a-half hours, elevating about £50,000 within the course of.
His wheelchair was fitted with tyres to go well with every terrain and he and the opposite 39 opponents have been solely in a position to sleep and eat on the flights between continents.
The former Army reservist turns into the primary wheelchair athlete to finish the problem since its launch eight years in the past.
It comes after he was paralysed from the chest down following a climbing accident in Snowdonia in 2017 when he fell 12m (40ft) down a rock face.
He stated he solely survived as a result of his pal managed to seize him, however he ended up spending 5 months in hospital..
“From the moment I fell, the moment Matt saved my life, I was determined that whatever happened I wouldn’t let it stop me from trying to live the fundamental life I wanted, which was full of challenge and adventure,” stated Mr Edwards.
“I didn’t want to be a different person just because I’m in a wheelchair.”
‘What’s attainable when there’s hope’
Reflecting on attitudes in the direction of his incapacity, he stated: “I remember being told about the things I wouldn’t be able to do and how life would never quite be the same.
“What I’ve carried out within the years which have adopted is to attempt to present an individual that may be in a hospital proper now, who could also be younger and energetic, what is feasible when there’s hope, and that there’s room for aspiration and ambition and to dream.”
He said his injury had in fact led to the most unexpected journey of his life.
“The issues I’ve carried out, the particular person I’m getting married to this 12 months, all of this stuff have occurred, all of this stuff would not have occurred had that rock not collapsed beneath my toes,” stated Mr Edwards.
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The £50,000 Mr Edwards has raised will go to the Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team – the charity that helped him be taught to ski after his accident.
Now again within the UK, he is already getting ready his subsequent problem: travelling to Iceland in April to ski 93 miles (150km) throughout Europe’s largest glacier.
He’ll be joined by two different para-athletes, former rugby participant and TV presenter Ed Jackson and Niall McCann.
Source: information.sky.com”