Disability Sport Fife athlete Callum Sloan (11), a McLean Primary School pupil, will take to the streets of the capital on 26th April for the London Mini Marathon, a major junior event for young wheelchair athletes.

Callum, who was born with a spinal cord injury, has his own custom-built racing chair and will compete along the last three miles of the famous London Marathon route on the morning of the event itself.

Mum Gayle is bringing the whole family along for support and can’t wait to see her son take on the challenge.

“I think I might shed a few tears,” she admitted. “His gran and granddad are coming too so it will be a big family event! We’re all really excited for him.

“He works hard and he enjoys it. He absolutely loves it! It’s not about the time, it’s about finishing and doing the best he can. It will be a whole different experience for him.” Primary 7 pupil Callum started racing when he was eight years old and received a major boost in 2012 when students from the University of St Andrews netball club raised money for his first custom-made racing chair.

Since then, he has taken the sport seriously and is now T53 classified for British athletics. He receives one-to-one coaching from DSF’s Pamela Robson and also gets the opportunity to train with some of Scotland’s top racing coaches.

“This year is the first time he’s been able to enter the mini marathon,” explained Gayle. “He’s been doing road training and focusing on that rather than on the track and he’s also been doing weights and swimming.

“He’s pretty nervous because he’s never experienced something as big as this before but he knows lots of boys that have done it before and it’s a good way of getting into racing. He’s dead excited, he’s very keen to get out and get training.” Gayle also had high words of praise for Disability Sport Fife and the support the organisation has given her son. “As a family we couldn’t manage without DSF,” she said. “They give Callum support and help with his chair. There’s lots out there for children with disabilities.” In a busy year for the young athlete, Callum is also set to move up to Queen Anne High School in August and Gayle is happy for him to continue with his passion for racing.

“It’s a real confidence boost,” she said. “It keeps him fit and healthy and gives him something to be really proud of, so he’s got something he can work towards. We’re going to support and encourage him to reach his goal.

“He’s an ambitious kid and he wants to do well and go on to something bigger and better for wheelchair racing.”