Participant stories

Participant stories

CLICK ON OUR PARTICIPANTS’ PICTURES BELOW TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEIR INCREDIBLE STORIES from previous parallel events.

The best bit was the encouragement and cheers as I reached the line, I was in tears.

The Parallel run will be so different and amazing as she and her siblings are the ones taking part.

It was one of the most challenging events I have attended, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

I heard about Parallel and liked the idea it's all inclusive for disabled and able bodied.

Maya may also take part in the 100m event for the first time with her kaye walker after just learning to walk with it this year following bilateral hip reconstruction in 2015.

I wanted to signed up for Parallel to support people who have to overcome, or live with disability – to show what is possible.

Don’t push yourself (or your dog/carer) too hard and drink enough water.

I've never been in a race before and when mum told me about this one I was so excited!

Meadow is my reason for taking part in the 10k run. Meadow was born with a congenital heart disorder

By the Parallel 2017 event Lyra will be able to walk some of the distance with her walking frame.

I will be taking part in the Super Sensory 1km with my son, It’s his first race in a wheelchair!

Inspiring Ann takes on the race of a lifetime.

We are really looking forward to taking part in our first Parallel London event and meeting loads of lovely new people as we help raise money for others.

I will be supporting the Matt Hampson Foundation.

I'm taking part in the 5km race to mark 10 years since I got ill. I am also running for the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Have fun, if you are the pusher in an assisted team do the dull bits without your partner and ensure your time competing together is a laugh. All athletes should also have a theme tune, work out yours over the coming weeks before the race.

I will be supporting SMA Support UK on this occasion as they provide support to the SMA community.

Fred, Eva and I are taking part in the Super Sensory walk. We are going to niff, walk, feel and sing our way around.

We are assisting one of our students to take part in this run to raise money for Treloar to enable them to carry on providing the best care and education.

William will be walking or 'running' in his own style for 1km in Parallel London 2017. This may not be much to many four year old’s, but to him it is a mountain to climb.

It's an honour to raise funds to help support the (Matt Hampson) Foundations future.

I have worked with children for eight years and have seen the difficulties some of them face and want to help. Raising money for BBC Children in Need will hopefully help support and encourage children in a positive way.

These games are a fantastic event for me to aim and train for and by taking part I can raise money for Livability.

This is a picture of me and Charlotte wearing our t-shirts that we have made for the Super Sensory 1km.

What a fantastic opportunity to race at the Olympic Park in my home city.

As a charity, Walsingham support celebrates each individual’s ability rather than focusing on their disabilities and Parallel London offered the same approach, so it was a perfect fit.

the residents really enjoyed it and talked about it endlessly!

My main top tip is to have fun, smile lots and giggle lots....these are the things I can still do and love to do!

She finds many things a challenge but is always happy and smiling. She always tries her hardest.

We took part in Parallel London last year and loved it. It was an inspirational event, so many people coming together to experience the true power of sport and prove that true courage takes many forms.

Ethan can't wait to complete it and get his medal!

We came last year and loved it. We love all inclusive events like Parallel. We will be raising money for Thomely Hall in our 5km.

We loved the idea of it being inclusive, this really is the backbone of what Phab is all about.

My top training tips would be to not take it too seriously, have fun and you will be amazed at what you can do almost by accident.

Danny will doing the 5k race in his wheelchair hoping to raise money for Livabiltiy.

After having an amazing experience on the 10km at Parallel London in 2016, Monique decided that she wanted to do it all over again. There’s no race quite like it. One where she can use her manual wheelchair to self-propel around the course rather than run.

Matt is looking forward to coming to the Olympic park and raising money for a good cause.

I want to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy UK and Myaware.

The walk is going to be very challenging as Mia has not been able to walk for about 6 weeks! But she's very determined! I will be behind her every step of the way!

Over the coming weeks, I'm going to be busy training on my Robotic Legs, to make sure I can do my best at Parallel in September!

I'm a trustee for the national charity, the Dyspraxia Foundation, and I'm running in several events in 2017 to raise awareness for Dyspraxia and Anxiety.

I will be taking part in the 10km run to enjoy, do some good and not race for a change.

I am supporting ADD International and I will be taking an electronic wheelchair.

Taking part in the Super Sensory event is a fun way to empower our members and give them the chance to support their own organisation.

Run, walk, push ...literally anything goes, as long as you have fun!

Since joining Action on Disability this May, my wife and I want to raise money towards AoD Employment and Youth Services supporting young disabled people to achieve their social, educational and employment opportunities.

Imelda is taking part in the Super Sensory 1km challenge and is asking for sponsors to help fund her much needed therapy and equipment.

Top Training Tip: Mind over matter

We learnt about Parallel London through the RDA and are both participating to raise money for the Bambers Green sub group.

I am doing it for a charity called Attitude is Everything. They work within the music industry to help disabled people as audiences, artists and professionals.

Oliver wants to help Faith raise enough money for her to receive the same operation and to achieve what he has.

Top Training Tip: Practice, Motivation, Positivity.

I am running for Spare Tyre Theatre, an amazing participatory arts charity that creates inspiring theatre with voiceless communities such as adults with learning disabilities, the elderly and economically disadvantaged communities.

We signed up for Parallel because I read an article by a young journalist sharing some of their life as a wheelchair user, it was a journey of many emotions.

I am taking part in the 1km walk (which I am going to complete in my walking frame) and I am supporting Whizz Kidz.

She was so impressed by Tracy running the London marathon she wanted to take part in a race too.

I will be walking for the Dyspraxia Foundation and Anxiety UK.

You can't think about anyone else! I just look ahead and try not to focus on the sprinters whizzing bye!

My mummy pushed me - I love to go really fast which made her really tired!

For the first time ever, Cady will be completing a walk by herself! We will be there to help guide her, but she'll be doing the whole thing on her own two feet.

Steve and Callum and some of the children/parents are taking part in Parallel London to help raise some money for post op physiotherapy for one of our players.

Aged five, Bertie thinks it’s completely natural that he should be able to join in any sport on his own terms. In his mind, he is an Olympian. We want to keep it that way.

We are raising money to help disabled youngsters who need help from our chosen charity, Whizz Kidz.

I love the idea of Parallel London because of how inclusive it is for all types of people.