Josh Wintersgill, a 30-year-old from Shepton Mallet, is set to lead an inspirational charity race up Snowdon in powered wheelchairs, aiming to raise £100,000 for SMA UK.

Joining him in this remarkable challenge is 19-year-old Maxwell McKnight, with both individuals living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). The event, part of the #KnowNoBounds campaign, is scheduled for Saturday, 15 June.

Since its launch on 17 January, the campaign has already made significant strides, raising over £27,000 within just a week, including a generous £25,000 donation from the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation. The aim of #KnowNoBounds is to not only raise awareness about the need for more accessible outdoor spaces for people with disabilities but also to gather funds to purchase new powered wheelchairs. These specialised wheelchairs, costing around £25,000 each, are essential for enabling individuals with SMA to safely explore the outdoors.

Joshua Wintersgill, disability entrepreneur and campaigner leading the event said: "My good friend and I have set ourselves this mission, to raise £100K and much needed awareness of the challenges people with disabilities can face. Having spent most of our lives using powered wheelchairs, we are extremely aware of the freedom specific powered chairs can provide. 

"The support we have received so far has been humbling and motivates us even more to meet this big challenge. We are incredibly grateful for every donation, including the £25,000 kindly given to us by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation."

The fundraising initiative has received overwhelming support, including a significant contribution from the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation. Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder of the easy family of brands and the Foundation, expressed pride in supporting Josh and Max's efforts to improve disability support and accessibility.

Joshua Wintersgill's contributions to the disability community extend beyond this campaign. In 2018, he received a UK Disability Entrepreneur Award from the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, which helped him launch his business, Able Move Ltd. His company designs and manufactures equipment for people with disabilities, improving their travel experiences and overall quality of life.

The Snowdon race will be challenging, involving two teams carrying essential equipment, including batteries for the mobility chairs, over a 14.5km distance with an ascent of 1085m. The fundraising goals range from purchasing one all-terrain X8 wheelchair at £25,000 to funding two activity weekends for adults and children living with SMA at £100,000.

The campaign has garnered support from various organisations, including SMA UK, Lifestyle and Mobility, Sunrise Medical, and JOST Explore.

To view #KnowNoBounds Just Giving page, please visit here: Know No Bounds Just Giving

Follow the campaign's progress on Instagram at knownoboundschallenge_ and on Tik Tok at knownoboundschallenge.