UK's first disabled strongman launches mission

Gary Clarke is the UK's first disabled strongman and set up the British Disabled Strongman Competition in 2015

The UK's first disabled strongman is fundraising to secure the future of a national event for strongmen and strongwomen.

Gary Clarke, 48, from Chard, Somerset, is a key organiser for the British Disabled Strongman Competition, which he set up in 2015 - but this year, it lost several major sponsors.

Mr Clarke said weightlifting has improved his cerebral palsy and is keen to support others so they can benefit from the sport.

He said: "The lifting has helped with my cerebral palsy 100% and I will always lift a barbell of some description. It's ingrained in me… and it just makes sense to me."

The annual competition will take place in Uxbridge, London, on the 13-14 September.

Mr Clarke has cerebral palsy and competes in the seated class for people with restricted use of their limbs

Mr Clarke was starved of oxygen when he was born three months prematurely. This traumatic birth left him with cerebral palsy.

But after receiving extensive physio through his younger years, he was able to walk with crutches.

He said he "always found a way" to achieve what he wants.

"When I started doing weights, the gym was up a set of stairs so I found a way to get up on the crutches. It was the warm up I think," he said.

He progressed to power lifting and bench pressing for Great Britain then saw there was a Disabled Man Championship in Iceland in 2011.

"It was unchartered territory," he said. "It was tough. I remember doing the van pull on paving slabs that weren't level and the tyres were let down as well."

'Very proud'

Mr Clarke competes in the seated class for people with restricted use of their limbs, which means he is only allowed to use his upper body.

He said becoming the first person to represent Great Britain made him very proud.

"The thing I want to get across is it's not a tokenism thing, it's hard," he added.

After training for about 20 years, he said he is more practical now and does not go "hell for leather".

"I train specifically for competitions and am more selective," he added.

He is urging people to donate to next year's British Disabled Strongman Competition.