Barry Funnell

Barry lives in Clapham Bedfordshire and works as the CEO of the charity Word for the World. Barry was paralysed from the chest down in an accident 29 years ago. Against the odds, he went on to qualify as a dentist in a wheel chair. He later gave up his career in dentistry to go to Malawi, Africa, to do language development and translated the Bible for the Sena people in a record ten years. This was despite 20 bouts of Malaria. Over 50 literacy centres now operate in Malawi, teaching hundreds to read and write. Barry loves sport, and his disability doesn't stop him! He plays golf one handed from his wheel chair, and won the South Africa disabled open championship twice and the disabled UK Masters. He also enjoys swimming successfully completing the Midmar Mile in South Africa twice (the biggest open water race in the world). He has recently taken up hand cycling, and is taking on the daunting challenge of hand-cycling the length of Britain to raise awareness of the Bible translation charity Word for the World. I would like to add on the end. He started on 8 Aug from Lands End and reached Wellington on 11 Aug at the tie of writing. He will finish at Johh O`Groats on 30 Aug 2011.