Ben Spencer and Peter Smorthit, two wheelchair users from London, are attempting the world's first wheelchair crossing of the Alps, a grueling 422 km journey from Switzerland to Italy. They face extreme heat and challenging terrains, aiming to inspire others with disabilities. The trek, pushing them to marathon distances daily, is complicated by high temperatures, making their efforts more strenuous. Both participants are raising funds for Ataxia UK, a charity that supports those with ataxia, while highlighting the potential for resilience in the disabled community.
It's a daunting challenge as nobody's actually pushed themselves over the Alps in a wheelchair before, but we're determined to finish. We want to encourage more wheelchair users to become active.
Unfortunately the temperatures out here are 17 degrees above normal, meaning we are pushing marathons in 33 degree heat, which is causing us some problems.
The duo usually take less than three and a half hours to complete a marathon, but on their second day, took over eight hours to travel the same distance.
Their challenge aims to raise money and awareness for Ataxia UK, a charity funding research and support services for those affected by ataxia.
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