Around 35 skaters and five wheelchair users from the London-based Wheels and Wheelchairs group will depart from Hove Lawns on Saturday, aiming to arrive in the French capital in time for the opening ceremony on Wednesday.

Isaac Harvey, the group’s president, emphasised the significance of the event, telling the BBC, "People with disabilities can lead very fulfilling lives, and having a disability doesn't mean those opportunities end."

Promoting accessible skating, the group will travel along traffic-free routes to Newhaven, where they will board a ferry to cross the English Channel. From Dieppe, they will continue their journey to Paris. They will be joined in France by 10 inline skaters who previously pushed six wheelchair users from Paris to London for the 2012 Paralympics.

As a wheelchair user himself, Mr. Harvey expressed excitement about the challenge, noting, “This is our first major skate since Covid, and we’re all looking forward to it, even though I know it will push my body to the limit.”

He also highlighted the importance of the journey, telling the BBC, "Reaching Paris will be a significant achievement, not just for Wheels and Wheelchairs, but also for what we can accomplish as a community when we come together."

Having led the group since 2019, Mr. Harvey hopes to demonstrate that people with disabilities are capable of undertaking "large-scale" endeavours, such as their trek to Paris and participation in the Games. He acknowledged the challenges they face, saying, "Living with a disability presents daily obstacles and barriers, but overcoming them can make life truly remarkable." 

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will run from 28 August to 8 September.