A group of wheelchair users and roller skaters from the UK-based sports club Wheels and Wheelchairs are taking on a demanding five-day challenge, skating from Brighton to Paris to coincide with the start of the 2024 Paralympic Games.

The event marks a significant moment for the club, which was inspired by a similar event twelve years ago when a French group skated from Paris to London for the 2012 Games.

Wheels and Wheelchairs is an outdoor activity club where roller skaters push wheelchair users, a concept brought to life after London skaters saw the French group’s efforts in 2012. Now, in 2024, the club has decided to recreate the journey in reverse, from Brighton to Paris, with 35 skaters, five wheelchair users, and eight volunteers taking part.

Isaac Harvey MBE, the club’s president, told Premier about the challenge, explaining that it will involve skating for five to eight hours each day.

"It's going to be quite gruelling," he said, acknowledging the physical demands of long hours on the road. Harvey joined the club in 2019 and became president in 2020. This will be his first time participating in such a large-scale event.

The club’s previous challenges included trips to Brussels and other destinations but plans for a major event in 2020 were cancelled due to the Covid -19 pandemic. The idea for this year’s journey was revived when members reminisced about past challenges and decided to bring back the tradition.

Harvey concluded: "It's about celebrating our roots, pushing our limits and highlighting the power of inclusivity in sports. I hope people can help make this skate into Paris a spectacular symbol of strength and community spirit!"