A DISABLED man will spread the Olympic spirit across America by showing young people how to lead a full and active life despite being confined to a wheelchair.
If he can raise £6,000 in the next five weeks, Gary Howe, 30, will drive 3,000 miles from Bangor, Maine, to Los Angeles, giving inspirational workshops to disabled youngsters along the way.
The Dorking resident was born with sacral agenesis, a condition affecting one person in 25,000 which makes walking impossible due to the fusing – or absence – of the sacrum bone at the base of the spine.
But despite the misfortune of being wheelchair-bound for life, Mr Howe is able to see the bright side of his circumstances.
The Rushett Drive resident told the Advertiser: "The nerves that run to my legs aren't getting through properly and I haven't got the muscles in my legs to walk unaided. But if you look at pictures online of people with this condition, I'm one of the lucky ones. There are people who just stop at the waist."
After attending Redlands Primary School – now known as St John's – in Dorking, Mr Howe went on to King's Manor School in Guildford where an inspirational youth support worker changed his outlook on life.
After being encouraged to try sports like canoeing, sailing and caving, the shy teenager became the first student to take a GCSE in PE at the school.
He went on to found freelance events management company Disability Made Easy and work as a Games Maker at last summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Having received so much help in his life, Mr Howe now wants to show others how easily they can expand their horizons.
He has decided to target impoverished communities in the USA after being shocked by videos posted on the internet by disabled Americans.
"I have seen so many people on YouTube appealing for funds to buy wheelchairs because they haven't got the NHS," he said.
"I got my wheelchair free on the NHS, but there are a lot of people in America who struggle to find the money to get their own.
"It's a developed country, so they shouldn't have to do that."
Mr Howe hopes to visit schools, families and support groups across the country to demonstrate how he changed from being almost too scared to leave the house into someone confident enough to take on most things.
Cities on his route include Boston, New York, Washington DC, Charlotte, Atlanta, Jackson, Dallas, Albuquerque and Phoenix, and he hopes people will suggest groups for him to visit along the way. But before he can get there, Mr Howe must raise £6,000. If he fails to reach his target by June 9, all donations will be refunded.
Call Mr Howe on 07792 033376, visit www.disabilitymadeeasy.co.uk or donate at www.indiegogo.com/projects/394416
