Wintersports right up to Paralympic level are being used as a new challenge for injured British servicemen and women by our armed services.
The Combined Services (Army, Navy and Air Force’s) Disabled Ski Team (CSDST) comes is a charity which trains wounded, injured or sick personnel to be Paralympic-standard skiers, reintroducing the spirit of challenge and competition that they were accustomed to as part of normal service life.
The team have been a huge success, with Army Sergeant (retired) Mick Brennan competing for Team GB at the 2014 Sochi Paralympics.
But this success wouldn’t have come without the team’s extensive ski-training programme which is part of the charity’s specially developed path towards sporting success. The team has set the bar high and is now trying to raise the £20,000 they need to take two more team members to the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Games.
A fundraising event coming up is the ‘Ride of Thrones’ – an event organised by UK employees of Selex ES, a company which works closely with British forces to provide protective equipment, so the CSDST cause is close to their hearts.
The ride will see a team cycle from one historic throne of power to another. Participants will leave Edinburgh Castle on September 3rd and make their way across the UK to arrive at the Tower of London on September 9th. The team will comprise Selex ES employees, other CSDST supporters, staff and athletes from the charity itself using specially designed hand-bikes.
Anyone can sponsor the riders and donate to The Combined Services Disabled Ski Team via a page on the JustGiving website: justgiving.com/RideofThrones or by texting “HERO26” followed by the amount you wish to make (max £10) to 70070.