Dan Edwards

Previously Dan was a very active and healthy 21 year old but in 2009 Dan had a horrific motorbike accident, which has left him paralysed from the chest down. Whilst in hospital Dan lost his Grandad and was unable to attend his funeral, this was a very hard time for him with also having to cope with adapting to new life in a wheelchair. Although this has not stopped him from helping and inspiring others to achieve their own goals. Since his long admission to hospital at the National Spinal Injuries Centre in Stoke Mandeville, Dan has taken part in a variety of disabled sports such as scuba diving, water skiing and handcycling. As well as taking part in the Inter-Spinal Unit Games at the Guttmann Stadium (birthplace of the Paralympics) in April 2010. He has been fundraising for a spinal injury charity called Back-Up by skydiving and even handcycling Coast to Coast from Tynemouth to Whitehaven (140 miles). Next year Dan hopes to handcycle from London to Paris (300 miles) for the same worthy charity. Dan is now going to throw himself into training for this event and enrol on a college course to further his career prospects. Eventually Dan hopes to become a disabled fitness instructor or sports therapist to help others in a similar position to himself. Dans positivity, drive, selflessness and support for others around him shows that he is very much a team player that will achieve anything he wants to despite his disability.