A WREXHAM man is undertaking a marathon challenge in aid of the charity that supported his step-son.
Stephen Walker, 65, is taking on the London Marathon for Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK), in a virtual challenge, setting a fundraising target of £2,000 for the charity.
Stephen's step-son Michael, 29, has a visual impairment of less than 50 percent and also has Down Syndrome and cerebral palsy. DSUK helped him learn how to ski. Also a keen runner, Mike will be cheering on his dad along the virtual route in North Wales on Sunday, April 21.
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Stephen said: "Mike started skiing with DSUK in 2018 and it's given him a great sense of independence. 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."
Stephen, who was left with a hole in his leg following a cancer diagnosis in 2020, worked hard to rebuild his muscle, was back running again less than six months later. His virtual run this month will be his third time running the London Marathon since beating the disease.
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He said: "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!"
Stephen 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 visit: tinyurl.com/38xa4tzu
To discover more about Disability Snowsport UK visit www.disabilitysnowsport.org.uk
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