ROBERT Groves was part paralysed in an accident in 2007 when he was 50 years old.

But he wasn’t going to let that define the rest of his life.

He said: “I chose to fight preconceived ideas of just what was possible for someone who could feel nothing below their waist. 

“Over the last ten years I have overcome many physical and mental barriers, completing many events others believed impossible.”

These have included hand cycling from London to Brighton, a 24 hour endurance race at Thurxton Motor circuit in which he qualified for race across America in 2017, Ride100, he hand cycled from Scotland to London 600 miles in November 2014, raising £12,000 for charity, and has hand-cycled in many charity rides all over the UK. 

He added: “Just one of these challenges is more than most of us will attempt in our lifetime. Yet I currently have my sights set on a new challenge - this July 2017 I will be hand cycling the coastline of the England 2,500 miles in 27 days. I will finish my challenge on July 28 where I will be greeted by the Prime Minister at number 10 Downing Street.”

He will be starting from Brighton pier on July 2.

If you want to meet the man who hopes to inspire others not to limit themselves and to fight for the environment he will be coming to Lyme Regis from Christchurch on July 4 and leaving the town to head to Torquay on July 5.

He said: “My aim is to demonstrate what disabled cyclists can do, raise awareness of hand cycling as a sport and raise awareness of our dying oceans.

“I am hoping to get 100,000 children and adults to sign a petition asking the UK Government for more education in our schools on climate change and saving our oceans and beaches around the UK from pollution. I will hand over this petition to Theresa May at number 10 Downing Street.

“I will also be raising funds for three of my favourite charities, Sea Shepherds, SIA Spinal Injury Association and the Cycling Project.

To donate go to justgiving.com/fundraising/Robert-Groves11, 12 or 13