Ron Gibson the first to finish City2Surf

1. Parramatta Sun
Thursday 19/08/2010
Page: 5
Section: General News
Region: Sydney, AU
Circulation: 63444
Type: Suburban
Size: 320.66 sq.cms.
press clip
Ron beats them hands down race, so it was good to cross the line
WENTWORTHVILLE resident Ron including the United States, Canada,
Gibson, 40, knows all about heart- first. Korea, Japan and New Zealand.
break. The week before his 18th "Heartbreak Hill was not as tough as He has represented Australia twice
birthday he was in a car accident that I thought. It was still tough but I've at the Far East and South Pacific
left him a paraplegic. been training veryhard." Games for Disabled in both track and
It made his historic climb up Heart- Training hard is an understatement marathon events. Only recently he's
break Hill all the sweeter. for the Parramatta Cycling Club been forced to race in a hand cycle,
Last week he made history by member. Four times a week, 20 kilo- which he hopes he can progress
becoming the first competitive entrant metres a day around Parramatta Park. through the ranks.
in the City2Surf with a spinal-cord It often takes him back to his days He works at ParaQuad NSW a non-
injury. Racing in a hand cycle, Ron before the accident where he used to profit member-based association
started just before the seeded runners run half marathons and was picked by striving to support people with spinal-
and beat all 85,000 participants to the the Sydney Swans to trial at age 16. cord injury to achieve their choices in
finish line. His finish time of 40 min- It was initially hard to come to terms life.
utes, 4 seconds was just inside the with the accident," he said. So far the Team ParaQuad NSW has
course record set by Aussie athletics It took me a long while to come to raised $18,000 for the Primary Health
legend Steve Moneghetti in 1991. It terms with my new lifestyle. Care unit through the City2Surf.
was great, fantastic there are no "Then, when I was in my late 20s, I
words to describe it!" he said of his thought I'd take up wheelchair racing Details: everydayhero.com.au/
achievement. and get active again." paraquadnsw.
"It's the first time wheelchair racers Racing wheelchairs has taken Ron
and paracyclists have been allowed to around the world to compete,
Last week Ron Gibson became the
first competitve entrarrt in the
C[ty2SUrf with a spinal-cord injury.
Chris Boulous reports.
ItIctura, Qui. Furtado
SPINAL-CORD INJURIES
About 10,040 people in Australia live with a spina Icord injury.
Between 3015 and 400 new injuries are reported each year,
After a spinal-6,mA Injury, it may take A year or mem before the
person can leave hospital and rektIM ILO the coinntwity.
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