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Jon's Para Arch to Arc Charity Challenge
SIA member Jon Cook, a senior oarsman from Dover is taking on an extraordinary personal challenge to raise funds for the organisations that have supported him through treatment for a rare spinal tumour and his journey of adapting to life as an incomplete paraplegic.
Starting on August 14 2026, Jon will attempt the Para Arch to Arc Challenge, travelling from Marble Arch in London to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris using a hand bike and a rowing boat. Covering an incredible 290 miles, the challenge is believed to be the first of its kind for a disabled athlete.
Jon’s Story
An active sportsman and association football referee, Jon’s life changed dramatically in late 2016 when he realised something was wrong. At the age of 36, he was diagnosed with rare spinal cord tumours. Married with two young children, the diagnosis brought enormous uncertainty about the future.
Jon underwent complex spinal surgery at Southampton Hospital. Although surgeons successfully removed most of the tumours, permanent nerve damage left him as an incomplete T6 paraplegic. He spent several months in hospital, including three months at the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.
Although surgery and rehabilitation has been successful, I have been left with permanent nerve damage from the waist down.
His impairment made walking and maintaining balance extremely challenging, and he initially relied on a wheelchair. During rehabilitation, Jon discovered rowing on an indoor rowing machine, finding that balance was less of a barrier. It was there that he trained alongside a future Paralympic rower.
Jon later joined Dover Rowing Club to continue his rehabilitation, never imagining that he would eventually take to the water in a coastal rowing boat. As his strength and confidence improved, the wheelchair gradually gave way to a walking stick. Over time, he progressed from needing two clubmates to support him into a boat to being able to independently get into the boat while his crewmates steadied it.
His determination saw him rise through the ranks from novice to senior rower, including completing a successful row the length of Loch Ness and competing at the South Coast Rowing Championships.
The Challenge
Jon has taken on this epic challenge not only to give something back to the organisations that have supported him, but also to test himself by learning an entirely new skill: hand cycling.
For the rowing element, Jon will be joined in a club four by his daughter Ella, one of Dover Rowing Club’s rising stars. Jon is an inspirational figure within the club, and members will be providing support throughout the challenge.
The planned route includes:
- Day 1: Hand bike from Marble Arch to Dover – 87 miles.
- Day 2: Row 21 miles to the centre of the English Channel and back, in line with regulatory requirements banning full crossings to France. Supported by WetWheels South East.
- Day 3: Hand bike 182 miles from the French coast to Paris, finishing at the Arc de Triomphe.
The Cause
Through this fundraising effort, Jon is supporting Aspire, the Spinal Injuries Association, WheelPower and Dover Rowing Club.
Aspire and the Spinal Injuries Association helped me once I was discharged from hospital and have also reached out during times of stress including Covid Lockdown, to ensure that everything remained ok.
Jon continues … “WheelPower helped me to find sport as a form of rehabilitation and as I’m quite competitive in nature this was important to me. Dover Rowing Club took a chance on me and found various different ways of getting me into a boat to take up coastal rowing.”
In excess of £2,500 has been raised towards his £10,000 target so far. Anyone wishing to support Jon’s fundraising effort can do so by clicking on the button below:
It’s now time for me to do something for these organisations. Please help by supporting me so that they can continue to provide the vital services to people with spinal cord injuries.
