"Challenge 100"
101.4 miles by wheelchair.
I appreciate that you will receive many requests for help for various charitable causes and that it is difficult to decide which to support. I would like to thank you in advance for taking the time to read my appeal and hope that you will consider my efforts, on behalf of others less fortunate than you and I, to be worthy of your support.
Since becoming severely disabled in 1991 as the result of a motor vehicle accident, I have had to re-evaluate my life. At that time, as a Leading Seaman Specialist in the Royal Navy, I was incredibly fit and led an active, full and privileged life, serving in both the Falklands and the first Gulf campaign, as well as competing in the Royal Naval Field Gun Crew.
The road to recovery remains long and difficult. Whilst I am mainly confined to a wheelchair and still suffer significant pain as a result of permanent brain damage and numerous physical disabilities, I find it helps greatly to concentrate a large proportion of my time in helping others, who I feel are less fortunate than myself. As such, over the past 3 years, I have helped raise in excess of £1,380,000 for local disabled children, the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Kiya survivors in Peru and, most recently, Great Ormond Street Children’s Charity, when I raised £20,000 by undertaking 51 wheelchair laps (20 miles) of the Emirates Stadium.
Despite my own difficulties, I have always had the love and support of family and friends. I have always had a roof over my head and homelessness is something I have never had to consider. As such, my next challenge will benefit Centrepoint, the UK charity with a mission to end youth homelessness. Whether they have run away from neglect or abuse to sleep rough, or been thrown out at 16 to fend for themselves, young people are vulnerable on the streets and need help. As well as providing safe accommodation, Centrepoint also gives youngsters the opportunity to change their lives by building a more fulfilling future through counselling, education and training.
In April 2011, with your help, I will commence my biggest challenge yet when I will self-propel a racing wheelchair, approximately 101.4 miles from Fratton Park Stadium, Portsmouth to the Emirates Stadium, London. The challenge will take 4 days and see me complete the equivalent of almost 4 marathons, 30 miles a day for the first 3 days and 11.4 miles on the final day. I plan to arrive at the Emirates Stadium during half-time of the Arsenal v Liverpool match on Saturday 16 April and have gained permission to complete this mammoth challenge with a lap of honour of the outside of the pitch.
The money raised through my challenge will be used to help create a state of the art training centre at Centrepoint Dean Street. The Training Centre will help young people to get a kick-start in life and be somewhere they develop life skills. The re-vamped service will provide a welcoming and inspiring place for young homeless people to go
to, to receive support, education and employment training, skills that are essential in helping them to stay off the streets permanently.
RGK Wheelchairs are providing the racing wheelchair, Nike are sponsoring my training gear, with various companies and individuals sponsoring other equipment.
Whilst this challenge will leave me in significant pain and physical exhaustion for weeks, the difference I will be able to make in the life of others will more than compensate. I truly hope that you feel this is a worthy cause for your support. By supporting me, you will be supporting Centrepoint and giving a young person in the UK a better chance in the future, which they may not otherwise get.
Thank you for your time in reading my appeal. Please help in whatever way you can.
Please do what you can to help and climb aboard "THE WHEELCHAIR OF HOPE" for a journey through training and to the finish line on the 16th April 2011.
Thanks go to RGK WHEELCHAIRS of Burntwood of Staffordshire, who are loaning Paul the chair for the duration of this challenge!
