Martin Perry selected for BBC Children In Need Rickshaw Challenge

GB Para Table Tennis Pathway Squad member Martin Perry is one of five young people who have been chosen by BBC Television’s The One Show to take part in this year’s Rickshaw Challenge for Children In Need.

The challenge involves pedalling 700 miles around the clock in a journey that will take in all four home nations to raise money for Children In Need. Martin, 19, from Paisley in Scotland, will partner The One Show’s presenter Alex Jones, starting out in Northern Ireland on Friday, November 8 and finishing at BBC Elstree Studios live on the BBC Children In Need Appeal Show on Friday, November 15.

Martin was born without either forearm or the bottom part of his left leg and became involved in table tennis through Drumchapel Table Tennis Club. This organisation provides table tennis classes for young people from an area of multiple social deprivations, including those with additional support needs or disabilities, and received a three year grant from Children In Need.

“Drumchapel Table Tennis Club nominated me to be on the challenge,” said Martin, “and I was lucky enough to make it to the final selection process, where we met Alex Jones from The One Show. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later that I found out I had been selected and that Alex had chosen me to be her cycle partner. I am really looking forward to the challenge; it’s going to be an adventure for all involved and a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m doing a lot of static bike training thanks to the fitness programme that was given to me by the organisers. I’m just happy to be part of something that will help so many young people.”

Martin, who also enjoys coaching younger players at Drumchapel Table Tennis Club as a volunteer, is studying Sport Development at the University of the West of Scotland and has been identified by the GB Para Table Tennis Team as a player with international potential. He recently competed in the Czech Open, taking a bronze medal in the men’s class 6 team event with Paralympian David Wetherill.

To support Martin on his challenge and to find out more details go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008dk4b/profiles/the-one-show-rickshaw-challenge-2013