Wrexham man taking on London Marathon challenge for disabled skiers

A Wrexham-man is taking on the London Marathon for Disability Snowpsort UK (DSUK) in a virtual challenge to help raise £2,000 for the charity that helped his son learn how to ski.

Stephen Walker, 65, will run the virtual route in North Wales on April 21.

His step-son Michael, 29, has a visual impairment of less than 50 percent and also has Down Syndrome and cerebral palsy.

Also a keen runner, Mike will be cheering on his dad this weekend.

Stephen, who was left with a hole in his leg following his cancer diagnosis in 2020, worked hard to rebuild his muscle, was back running again less than six months later.

His virtual run will be his third time running the London Marathon since beating the disease.

He is running in aid of Disability Snowsport UK, which provides inclusive snowsport for everyone; regardless of disability, injury or experience.

“Mike started skiing with DSUK in 2018 and it’s given him a great sense of independence,” said Stephen.

“He started by taking lessons at a dry ski slope in South Wales and fell in love with the sport.

“Now we travel to the indoor centre in Manchester on a regular basis. Skiing has become a huge part of our lives and Mike can now ski down from the top at the Chill Factore. It’s a sport that’s given him lots of confidence and he enjoys”.

“Mike is a huge inspiration to me. He became the first person with Down’s syndrome from Wales to complete the London Marathon in 2021, and to do that together as father and son was a really special experience.

“His progression on snow has encouraged me to become an adaptive ski instructor myself.

“I hope I can help more people with disabilities experience the sport and the metal, social and physical freedoms it brings – though I admit Mike is a much better skier than me.”

He added: “I hope my efforts can help raise funds to purchase communication headsets that will benefit to people with visual impairments in particular, and help them experience the same joy that skiing has brought to our family.”

To support Stephen click here or to discover more about Disability Snowsport UK visit www.disabilitysnowsport.org.uk