ALEX Slegg will be travelling to the Winter Paralympics in PyeongChang to experience the Paralympic Inspiration Programme (PiP) thanks to the continued partnership between the British Paralympic Association (BPA) and Help for Heroes.

The former soldier from Poole served in the infantry until a herniated disc in 2013 led to Caude Equina Syndrome, nerve damage in the back.

After learning to ski in 2016, Slegg has gone on to compete at international level on the World Para Alpine skiing circuit as well as military ski races such as the Army Divisional Skiing Championships.

He said: “This is an invaluable opportunity for me to see the highest competitive echelon of my sport.

“I will get to see exactly what I will endeavour to be going through in 2022.

“I know that from being part of the PiP programme I will be in the best possible state when my turn to compete at this level comes around.

“Alpine Ski racing has totally changed my life and given me a whole new purpose and direction after a career in the Armed Forces.

“The exercise and mileage we get from intensive skiing cements a physical wellbeing and spending time in the mountains promotes a healthy mental wellbeing too.”

Slegg will join five other athletes and a coach to experience the programme which is formed of athletes across five Paralympic sports, Para Nordic skiing, wheelchair curling, Para canoe and Alex’s sport – Para alpine skiing

The initiative, which was first launched in London 2012, gives athletes and coaching staff the opportunity to experience several days at a Paralympic Games.

It aims to provide developing athletes with knowledge that will prepare them for a future Games as a selected athlete, as well as inspire and excite potential future Paralympians in their ambitions.

Former athletes to have benefitted from PiP include current Paralympian and Help for Heroes athlete Scott Meenagh who got his first taste of winter sport in Sochi as part of the programme and is now the first athlete to represent Para Nordic skiing in 20 years.

In PyeongChang, the athletes will look to understand the scale and scope of the Games, experience the unique multi-sport environment and learn about some of the unique aspects of a Paralympic Games, including the Village, the media spotlight and mixed zone, and the crucial operations and logistics which support ParalympicsGB.