A MAN who has to use a wheelchair following a car crash 11 years ago has completed a 20-mile challenge to raise money for charity.

Paul Hill, 29, of Lawn, wheeled the impressive distance around Swindon’s cycle path network in aid of Developing Health and Independence (DHI) so the charity can make improvements to its centre.

He suffered a broken spine in a car accident near London as a teenager and was told he would never walk again.

Yesterday, he completed the trek in just over five hours, alongside DHI team leader Mike Strathdee, who ran the distance and offered words of encouragement along the way.

Paul, who said the inspiration for the challenge came from fellow wheelchair user Paul Wilkinson’s 10 hills challenge, set off from Guildford Avenue, and used the cycle tracks around the town before finishing at the centre in Maxwell Street.

“It was tough but we got there in the end,” he said. “My shoulders are killing, but my hands are fine – I have been in a chair for 11 years now so I guess they are used to it.

“It was all worth it though, it is all for such a good cause and I’m not going to stop there. Next time I am going to do an even longer route, I’m looking at more like 100 miles.”

Paul has raised nearly £500 but still hopes to reach his target of £1,000 for the charity, which he visits on a regular basis.

He said: “I’ve been coming to DHI for several years now and I knew they definitely needed some extra funding and improvements in a few areas so I thought this would be a good idea.”

DHI, formerly known as the Drugs and Homeless Initiative, was set up in 1999 to help people out of the cycle of homelessness and drug and alcohol abuse. Its aim is to help people address their addictions and gain control of their lives again.

Mike said he and the service users were extremely grateful for what Paul had done and the money would be put towards a number of projects, including a new recovery programme for substance misuse sufferers.

“This is the first time anyone has ever done anything like this for us and we are so, so grateful,” he said.

“I completed the course with Paul and it was great, but for me he was just so inspiring.

“He has worked so hard for it and he wanted to prove to himself that he could do it and raise money for us as well. He is a great example to all the others here and now they know that if he can lift himself up and do that then they can do it too.”

Anyone who wants to sponsor Paul should call DHI on 01793 617177 or visit www.justgiving.com/Paul-Hill2.