Beyond Boundaries Live is an exhibition that was created on the back of the hugely successful BBC TV show about expeditions led by ex SAS major Ken Hames (Ben Nevis) and a team of disabled people breaking their own boundaries. The show covers these individuals as they go on expeditions across some of the hardest and inhospitable terrain in the world. The latest 3rd series follows Ken and a team of disabled teenagers crossing Ecuador and the treacherous Andes in just four weeks. With a healthy dose of teamwork and abilities they didn't know they had the team made it all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
The Live exhibition was held at the Kent County Show ground and offered a wide choice of products, services and activities to the disabled community. This included various sports, the arts, cooking, holidays, work and recruitment, mobility with test drives, hand cycling, rock climbing and lots more. Plus they hosted inspirational talks from celebrities and personalities who have overcome their disability in order to achieve amazing feats of endeavour. If you missed this year keep your eye out for details on next years event as it's a show no person with a disability should miss out on EVER!!
Pete and I had registered to go a few months back as we had been to the show last year and were impressed by the event as a whole. A week or so before the event I got a call from Ken asking if we (The Wheel Life) would like to get involved with helping him run the obstacle course that he had just been asked to do for the event. Pete and I thought this was a great idea and jumped on board. Friday morning we arrived at the show ground and met up with Ken and the team from the last Beyond Boundaries TV show. Julie, Libby, Liam, Jeremy, Sean, Holly, Azura and Olivia had come from all corners of the country to help out and be part of the event.
The obstacle course was set up in the trees on the other side of the car park away from the main event which was a frustration to Ken and everyone but we all made the best we could of it. The idea of the course was to get the person in a four wheeled all terrain chair around the course in the quickest time possible. The course consisted of chicanes, sharp corners and hay bales that you had to get the chair over. We managed to persuade lots of people throughout the two days to come and have a go and everyone without fail had a great time and some kept coming back time and again trying to beat their original time. Next year with a bit more notice Ken with treat us to a course that's even more challenging I am sure.
When we weren't running the obstacle course it was a great opportunity to go round the exhibits and meet and talk to people and get a real insight into what was new and available on the market. Listening to the seminars by Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, Ade Adepitan, Kerry McGregor, our Ken Hames and more was very inspirational and really gave you the motivation to find out what more you could be doing with your life. I met some really great people, including Dame Tanni, Ade and Kerry and hope to persuade them at some point to join The Wheel Life community as well. Just chatting to people and seeing lots of other wheelchair users all in one place gave you a real feeling that we are moving forward and making a difference ( all be it too slowly)
The two day event was a huge success and I am sure made a positive difference to the hundreds of people that came through the doors. We just need it to be thousands next time!