Paraplegic Peter Smorthit has broken a Guiness World Record by becoming the first person to push an everyday wheelchair from Lands’ End to John O Groats (LEJOG).
Peter took 34 challenging days to cover 967 miles on roads and cycle paths, while pulling supplies on a customised trailer, to raise money for Canine Partners.
The national charity trains assistance dogs and thanks to Peter’s efforts it can transform the lives of many more disabled people by partnering them with one of their amazing dogs.
The dogs are taught a range of tasks that will give essential support to their partner, including picking up and fetching items, opening doors and helping with dressing and undressing. They can even help to load and unload a washing machine and they can fetch help in an emergency.
Having become a T10 complete paraplegic 13 years ago following a severe accident, Peter has consistently taken on marathons, triathlons, and extraordinary challenges to support worthwhile causes like Canine Partners.
“I’m finally here and I’ve made history today by becoming the first ever person to do LEJOG in an everyday non racing wheelchair,” announced Peter on his arrival yesterday in John O’Groats.
“Not bad for a Para. It has been one hell of a journey and have had literally everything imaginable thrown at me, but I’ve just continued to dig in and kept going. Rain, sleet, flooded roads, some evil hills I wouldn’t wish on anyone and some of those cambered bends I’ll never forget.
“There were times it almost broke me, especially with the dreadful weather I had to endure but just kept thinking about the end goal, and with every push and every hill I got up I was just that bit closer to making the LEJOG dream a reality.”
To support Peter's fundraising efforts, please visit tinyurl.com/fw9xvvka
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