‘Having a disability doesn’t have to stop you from setting ambitious goals’ – Ryann Takes on Abbey Dash Challenge

Ryann is preparing to take on the Leeds Abbey Dash this autumn as he builds towards one of the biggest challenges of his life: completing the London Marathon in a wheelchair in April 2027.

His journey to the start line has been anything but ordinary.

At just two years old, Ryann was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. As part of his treatment, he underwent pioneering surgery to replace his left femur with a metal bone at the age of two-and-a-half. Since then, he has undergone around 65 operations and spent an astonishing 157 hours on the operating table.

Those 157 hours inspired the creation of Team 157, a fundraising team made up of Ryann and five dedicated support runners. Together, they will take on the London Marathon with the goal of raising £15,000 for the Bone Cancer Research Trust.

While he will have the support of his teammates on marathon day, Ryann's personal goal is to self-propel as much of the 26.2-mile course as possible.

Having only recently begun wheelchair training, he has already propelled himself an impressive 6.74 miles in a single session. Most of his training so far has taken place on an athletics track, making the Leeds Abbey Dash a valuable opportunity to experience a major road-running event, complete with varied terrain, gradients and the unique atmosphere created by thousands of fellow participants. He is also looking forward to sharing the experience with members of Team 157 who have signed up for the event.

As a proud Leeds resident, taking part in one of the city's most iconic sporting events makes the challenge even more meaningful.

Ryann said: "As someone from Leeds, being able to take part in such a well-known local event makes it even more special. I'm looking forward to challenging myself, gaining valuable experience and hopefully showing that having a disability doesn't have to stop you from setting ambitious goals."

For Ryann, the Abbey Dash is about far more than completing 10 kilometres. It is an important milestone on the road to London, helping him build confidence, test his abilities and move one step closer to achieving his marathon dream.

Most importantly, by sharing his story, Ryann hopes to raise awareness of bone cancer and inspire others facing challenges of their own to keep pushing forward, no matter the obstacles in their path.