Welshpool's hand-cycling hero has done it again
Hand-cycling hero Andrew Paddison and his team have completed the ride around Ireland – cycling 1,300 miles in 13 days.
The Welshpool Thalidomider was born with two short arms and one leg but it hasn’t stopped him raising thousands of pounds by taking on inspirational challenges on his adapted handbike.
But he openly admitted to MyWelshpool that the route, known as the Race Around Ireland, proved to be his biggest challenge so far.
“I’m pleased to say I am the first handcyclist to cover the route known as Race Around Ireland but it was the toughest challenge to date,” said Andrew.
“Over 1,300 miles in 13 days with all unfavourable kinds of weather imaginable, a two-day stomach upset, variable roads from smooth to bone shakers - this definitely was the toughest challenge to date and even by the third day I nearly found my limit.”
Andrew said the entire team were completely exhausted at the end of each day’s ride but he said they were determined to complete the challenge backed-up by support driver Colin Edwards who he described as exceptional.
In the last three years, Andrew and his team have raised over £43,000 for charitable causes.
They completed 1,000 miles from Lands End to John O’Groats in 2019, completed a 500-mile trip around the Scottish Highlands in 2020 and last year hand cycled an incredible 1,000 miles through some of Scotland’s most challenging countryside across to the west coast, up to Skye and then back across to the east and through the Cairngorms.
This year Andrew and his team were raising money for Women’s Aid and you can donate at:
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