Paralympian Jonathan Coggan set to handcycle across the Western Cape for REGAIN
Jonathan, who plays for the Team GB, Wheelchair Rugby team and represented his country at both the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Paralympics, is set to handcycle some 400 kilometres across South Africa’s Western Cape.
The Chelmsford athlete must complete the journey from De Doorns in the Winelands to the coastal town of Cape Agulhas in just five days in order to raise over £1,000 for the charity.
His participation was made possible only after Fish stepped in to offer its specialist disability travel insurance. “I was struggling to get insurance because of my medical history and REGAIN wouldn’t let me go without it. I’d committed myself to going but needed to get all this paperwork done, the final piece of the jigsaw and Fish providing it actually enables me to take on the challenge.”
A grateful Jonathan is looking forward to what will be a fun but no doubt arduous test and has pledged to report back on his progress direct from South Africa. He has offered to write an exclusive blog for the Fish website, starting imminently with details of preparations for the challenge.
The REGAIN South Africa Bike Ride is just the latest athletic test 30-year-old Jonathan has taken on since becoming tetraplegic following a car crash when he was 16. Having been inspired by former Team GB Wheelchair captain, Bob O’Shea, who visited him at Stoke Mandeville, he took up the sport. Within three years he was representing his country and at the London Olympics played in front of massive crowds as the sport proved a major hit in the UK and across the globe.
The team secured a highly creditable 5th place in the 2012 Games although Jonathan credits his greatest personal sporting achievement as being awarded “Best In Class” when Britain beat Australia in the 2006 World Cup.
* The REGAIN South Africa Ride starts on Friday 22nd November. If you’d like to sponsor Jonathan please click here whilst to follow his progress don’t forget to catch his exclusive blog right here!
