London Gatwick Airport has announced that it is sponsoring the new Superhero Series, a UK-based disability sport event designed for amateur sports enthusiasts, their friends and families.
To be filmed by Channel 4, the first event in the series is a triathlon, which took place at Dorney Lake, Windsor, on August 19, and saw teams of celebrities participate alongside nearly 2,000 members of the public.
The teams have been formed through a number of different channels including competition winners from the public who will race against each other in the different disciplines. One person in each team must consider themselves to have a disability in order to qualify for the event.
The celebrity team captains range from Paralympians to TV personalities, and include Adam Hills, Hannah Cockcroft, Jonnie Peacock, David Weir, Megan Giglia, and Sophie Christiansen.
Gatwick has entered a number of teams, one of which will be captained by Paralympic gold medalist and professional wheelchair tennis player Gordon Reid, who will take on the push/run stage of the triathlon (0.6 miles) and will be joined by Tim Norwood, chief planning officer at Gatwick (bike 1.9 miles), and Abbie Breakwell (an everyday superhero) who will take on the swim (490ft).
Melanie Wrightson, community engagement manager, Gatwick Airport, said, “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Superhero Series and are especially looking forward to participating in the triathlon alongside so many world-renowned athletes. Gatwick has always been an advocate of accessibility at the airport for people of all abilities and welcomes events like this which raise the profile of disability inclusion.
“Gatwick is proud of the continuing support that it provides to projects, events and causes in local communities throughout the South [of the UK]through sponsorship every year.”
Sophia Warner, Superhero Series founder and Team GB Paralympian, said, “I’m super proud to be working with an organization so committed to championing the Everyday Superhero. Without the support of our fantastic Super Partners this series wouldn’t be possible.”
