A Hero’s Welcome with Wonderwheels

Calling all caped crusaders! Superhero Series, the “UK’s one and only disability sports series for the Everyday Superhero”, needs you!  This November, the sporting organisation is hosting their latest event ‘At Home Winter Wonderwheels’ that will see hundreds of disabled and able-bodied participants join forces to run, walk, cycle, push or be pushed to hit their chosen sporting target.  Developed by ex-Paralympian, Sophia Warner, ‘At Home Winter Wonderwheels’ is completely online for the first time ever, meaning you can even get involved from your living room.  Superhero costumes while taking part are, of course, essential!

Getting A Sporting Chance

Sophia, a former Paralympic sprinter who has Cerebral Palsy, set up Superhero Series after becoming frustrated at the lack of opportunities for disabled and non-disabled sports people to take part in sporting events together.  She made history in 1998 as the first disabled person to complete in the London Triathlon with non-disabled participants.  During the event, she was disappointed to find that much of the triathlon wasn’t catered for her as a disabled participant.  It made it tricky to compete and affected her enjoyment of a sport she’d always loved.

Sophia recalls: “I found it hard to keep up and had to ask other participants for help with my wetsuit and to get my bike down from the high rack.”

A Heroic Effort

After setting up Superhero Series in 2017, Sophia has helped organise two sporting events each year and the project’s popularity is growing.  The Superhero Tri, held during the summer months, gives the participants the opportunity to compete in a triad of events; swimming, cycling and running.  Then, in November, Winter Wonderwheels is a single distance event usually held just outside London.  Each course is designed to be as inclusive and as welcoming as possible, allowing its superhero participants to use whichever type of equipment they need to be able to complete the course.  The superheroes can also complete with a chosen ‘sidekick’ who can assist them throughout the race.

Sophia explains: “I love the idea of creating a series where people with all kinds of disabilities can feel confident that they’ll come together with like-minded individuals and, crucially, feel in the majority rather than the minority.”

2020 Vision

As this year’s ‘At Home Winter Wonderwheels’ will be held entirely online, it’s even easier to get involved.  Starting on the 5^th November and running for a month, superheroes who take part can set their own distance target.  If they’re feeling extra brave, they can get involved in the Race Around the World challenge, where all participants complete to collectively hit over 40,000km.  From laps round the back garden to wheeling around the local park, this year’s event mission, should heroes choose to accept it, will certainly be super!

For more information or to sign up to take part, head to the Superhero Series website.