Former Paralympian from Maidenhead trains to handcycle from London to Paris

A former Paralympian from Maidenhead will compete in the London to Paris cycle challenge to support those affected by spinal cord injury.

Twenty years ago, a fall at a friend’s house during Tom Aggar’s final year of university left him paralysed from the waist down with a T12 complete spinal cord injury.

Now, the 41-year-old chemistry teacher is among the 61 cyclists preparing to journey from London to Paris to raise funds for Back Up, a UK charity supporting people affected by spinal cord injury.

“In those early days after my injury, I just wanted my old life back,” said Tom.

“It probably took me about two years to really come to terms with it.

“Even now, I still have those ‘if only’ thoughts; I think they’re inevitable. But I try to focus on what I can do.”

Tom discovered the charity during rehab at the spinal unit in Stanmore and signed up for a multi-activity course in the Lake District.

“It was incredible, learning wheelchair skills, being around people who had been there and done it. I just got so much confidence,” he added.

From there, he took up water skiing, snow skiing, and then specialised in adaptive rowing, eventually competing in three Paralympic Games.

He has been steadily building his fitness since January and is now training to be one of the six hand cyclists taking on the 450km journey from Friday, September 26 to Monday, September 29.

“If you’d said to me a year ago I’d be doing this, I would’ve said, ‘There’s no way.’ It didn’t seem possible,” said the father of three.

“I started doing some cardiovascular training in the gym, just to get fit again. Then in May, I began getting out on the road. A couple of weekends ago, I did my longest ride, which was about 67 miles.”

The London to Paris ride is held in memory of Danny Turnbull, a former trustee of Back Up and partner at Stewarts Law, who had a spinal cord injury.

Danny benefited from Back Up’s services after his injury and went on to pioneer the first ride in 2016.

Following his death in 2017, the London to Paris cycle rides in 2018 and 2022 became a tribute to his legacy, and Danny’s son, Lucas, will take part in the 2025 ride.

“I met Danny… and I always knew that the ride was an event that he had established,” said Tom.

“On first hearing about it, I just thought, I don’t know if I could do that. And then I thought, why not?”

Tom knows the route will be physically and mentally demanding, and he is looking forward to the finish line, hoping his efforts will inspire others.

“Day one’s going to be tough with the climbs. I can manage flat rides at a decent speed, but the bike is heavy, and hills are hard. The big challenge will be getting up the next day and doing it again and again,” he said.

“I think the biggest thing will just be that sense of achievement. It’s proving that anything’s possible with the right support and the right people around you.”

His late father loved watching the Tour de France and competed in events as a cyclist, and Tom thinks ‘he’d be super proud’.

Every mile cycled and every pound raised will go toward Back Up’s work to help the 105,000 people currently living with a spinal cord injury to live independent lives.

“There might be someone in 10 years’ time I bump into, and I’d say, ‘Well, I did that – and if I can do it, why can’t you?’,” said Tom.

“Back Up gave me the tools to go on and lead a full and independent life. I feel fortunate to have benefited, and now I want to give something back.”

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