Going the distance during lockdown with Marvel’s 2020 Winter Wonderwheels event

By Tom Brooks, Marketing Manager

Last Saturday, 11 energetic #TeamGuidant members completed a combined total of 172km by wheeling, cycling and running as part of Guidant’s entry into the month-long At Home Winter Wonderwheels event powered by Marvel.

What is Winter Wonderwheels?

Winter Wonderwheels is a Superhero-themed disability sport series powered by Marvel! The event’s mission is simple: to create fun, full-throttle mass-participation sports events where people with disabilities – A.K.A. Everyday Superheroes – call the shots and don’t have to worry about cut-off times or equipment restrictions.

Guidant have entered multiple teams into the event for the past three years; in a non-covid year, we would all have met and gone the distance at the beautiful Lake Dorney in Windsor. Due to lockdown restrictions, 2020’s event was a locked-down, “at home” version!

Here’s what some of #TeamGuidant have to say about this year’s ‘at home’ event.

Wayne Evans, Project Coordinator

Despite the fact I had not run this distance in quite some time and being two stone heavier than I would have liked to have been, the run went surprisingly well. It might not have been fast, but the weather was nice and the paths were clear.

I was spurred on by the knowledge that my #TeamGuidant colleagues were going to be putting in a huge amount of effort and all I had to do was the same thing. I was exhausted by the time I had completed the run but got a quick burst of energy when I realised my wife had put the finishing line across the front door. Ultimately, I loved it and had a real sense of achievement, especially for such a good cause. I can’t wait to do it again next year.

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Stephen Salmon, Marketing Executive

I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to take part in mass participation sporting events that have recently become more inclusive, but this has often been inclusive only for manual wheelchair users like myself.

My first experience of the Superhero Series was 2019’s Winter Wonderwheels and it was also my first experience of a fully-inclusive sporting event.

Whilst there is the obvious disappointment of not being able to celebrate Winter Wonderwheels together at Dorney Lake, this year’s event has become even more inclusive and reached a far wider audience via social media—more disabled people being able to see that these opportunities exist and possibly summoning their own inner superhero can only have a positive impact.

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Emma Buckley, Talent Acquisition Manager

My boys have been taking part in both the Summer and Winter Superhero Series for the last three years - they were keen to take part again this year as they love running and winning medals. But really, having the boys take part in a sporting event that has such a diverse range of participants is brilliant for their development especially with the focus being on taking part and not winning. As a disability ambassador for Guidant, I am proud to represent my company at events such as these as well.

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Ben McGuinness, Supply Chain Consultant

The day was very different from previous years not having the large crowds or being able to enjoy the day with our colleagues and friends but it was nice to push myself out of my comfort zone and complete the 10km target I set myself as this was for such a good cause. Looking forward to next year’s event and hopefully being back around the gorgeous Dorney Lake!

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Click here to read how we fared at last year’s Winter Wonderwheels event! We can’t wait for the next one.