Being in a wheelchair does not mean you have to wave goodbye to sporting achievements.

Courage - Romanian wheelchair athlete David Raulea, with Lisa Henry, of Hapee. Picture: LUAN MARSHALL 7SDVC1

That was what David Raulea, 23, proved as he arrived in Southend to train for the London Marathon on April 14 - and he will be the first disabled Romanian to compete in the 26.5-mile challenge.

Leigh resident George Henry organised the trip through his charity Hapee, which helps disabled people in Romania.

Cash raised from David's efforts will go to help a 16-year-old Romanian girl born with just one arm. George wants to bring her to Britain to have an artificial arm fitted.

Southend firm KeyMed, in Stock Road, has donated a state-of-art wheelchair so David can use it when he wheels himself to the finishing line in April.

Published Monday, March 4, 2002