Ambassadors Paula Craig Following a 4 year career as a radiographer, Paula joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1986. Having been promoted to Detective Inspector in 2005, postings included the Serious and Homicide Crime Command and the Counter Terrorism Command. A keen runner and triathlete, she completed the London marathon 6 years running, 1995 to 2000 inclusive, with a personal best of 2 hrs 57 mins in 2000. In May 2001, whilst cycle training for an upcoming qualifying race for the age group world championships, she was hit by a car and paralysed from the waist down. Following 5 months of rehabilitation in hospital, Paula resumed training as a wheelchair athlete and competed in three further London marathons, the first just 11 months after her accident. She also took part in several triathlons as a wheelchair athlete including 3 world championships, winning the gold medal in each. She won the Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration in 2005 and was awarded an MBE for Services to the Police the same year. In 2022, Paula swam the English Channel as part of a relay team of six, becoming the first person with a complete spinal cord injury to do so by Channel rules (no wetsuit). She raised over £24,000 for Aspire, a charity close to her heart. Darren Edwards After a time in the armed forces, and pursuing his mountaineering passion, Darren trained as a teacher. Shortly after qualifying, he was climbing in North Wales when the ledge he stood on fell away, and he plunged over 100 feet. Lucky to survive, he broke his back in two places, severing his spinal cord. Darren was paralysed from the chest down. As well as dealing with the trauma of his new circumstances, he faced a gruelling rehabilitation regime and an uncertain future. Within days of leaving hospital, Darren found purpose. Determined to return to his outdoor adventures, he bought a kayak and took to the water for the first time. It was the start of a series of adventures that saw him kayak the length of Britain with fellow ex-servicemen and become the first wheelchair user to complete the 777 challenge - seven marathons on seven continents over seven days. Later this year, he will sit-ski across Antarctica to the South Pole. The team Manage Cookie Preferences