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Men finish 270-mile wheelchair trek for wrestler

Laura Devlin
BBC News, Norfolk
Shaun Whitmore/BBC A woman in black clothing and a baseball cap walking across a road, with two men in wheelchairs following behind her, one in hi-vis and dark clothing, the other in a grey hoodie and dark trousers. All three are wearing baseball caps. The blurred image of the back of a moving lorry can be seen to the right, and a road sign for Norwich and Fakenham. Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Peter Smorthit (centre) and Nathan Penfold were joined on Friday by wrestler Saraya Knight (left)

Two men have trekked from North Wales to Norfolk in wheelchairs to support a paralysed wrestler with his recovery.

Lee Mitchell of Hopton-on-Sea is undergoing rehabilitation after breaking his neck while competing as Mitchell Starr in December.

Friends and fans have rallied to help the 32-year-old, with Nathan Penfold and Peter Smorthit wheeling 270 miles (435km) from Prestatyn to Norwich to raise funds.

Mitchell described his friends as "superheroes" after they finished their trek.

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Lee Mitchell looks away from the camera while smiling. He has light hair that hangs over his forehead and wears a grey t-shirt with a chain around his neck that has a cross on it.Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Lee Mitchell was injured when he broke his C3 vertebra attempting to catch a wrestler who had dived outside the ring

Mitchell broke his neck when taking part in a cage match last year.

Mr Penfold wanted to help as much as he could when he heard of the wrestler's plight and particularly his loss of income.

"It's been an honour," he said.

"It's been a tough one at times, but we're doing it for a great lad, we know he would do this for us."

The pair set off last week, camping each night and treating themselves to one hotel stay where they "slept like we've never slept before" ahead of the final push.

Shaun Whitmore/BBC A woman in black clothing and a baseball cap walking on a country lane beside two men in wheelchairs, one in hi-vis and dark clothing, the other in a grey hoodie and dark trousers. All three are wearing baseball caps. A blue car is following themShaun Whitmore/BBC
A support car accompanied the men on their trek
Shaun Whitmore/BBC A man smiling while wearing a black tshirt, a basbeball cap on back to front with Reaper Crew in white lettering across itShaun Whitmore/BBC
Nathan Penfold spent a few hours in hospital after a fall from his wheelchair

Mr Smorthit said he could empathise with Mitchell after similarly having suffered a spinal injury

"By doing this challenge we hope we can shine a light on his fundraising, and help him out on his road to recovery," he added.

Once the pair had finished Mitchell said the sense of love for his friends was "incredible".

"It's so inspiring to me that people who are bound to wheelchairs, just to help one of their friends, will wheel 270 miles - it's humbling and overwhelming."

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Mitchell hugs Peter Smorthit following his trek. Mitchell sits on a chair while Peter is in his wheelchair.Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Mitchell welcomed back his friends at the finish line and gave them each a hug

Saraya Knight, a friend and fellow professional at the World Association of Wrestling (WAW) based in Norwich, has helped organise fundraising on Mitchell's behalf.

She joined the two men as they wheeled for the final 17 miles, from Bintree Watermill near Dereham, to the WAW headquarters.

"Everybody is putting in as much as we can so [Mitchell] has a pot if his house needs to be transformed and bills need to be paid - we will keep going while he needs it," she added.

Shaun Whitmore/BBC A man in glasses and hi-vis vest with a baseball cap and camera on his headShaun Whitmore/BBC
Peter Smorthit is used to endurance events

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