Ahead of his appearance at Naidex this March, double amputee Richard Whitehead shares how his journey from overcoming adversity to becoming a world champion sprinter has shaped the work of his charity, the Richard Whitehead Foundation, enabling people living with disabilities to turn their sporting dreams into reality.
What sparked your passion for sports as a young boy?
I grew up in Nottingham and was born with my disability - a double through-knee congenital amputation. I developed a passion for sport at an early age, after my parents saw the unifying power of sport and the opportunities it can bring. They encouraged me to participate and taught me how to live a life without limits, something which has defined me and everything I do.
I swam regularly and took part in gymnastics. Skills like balance and agility, which I developed through these activities, are still important to me now as a professional athlete.
What was your experience like in accessing sports growing up? What specific barriers did you face?
Throughout my whole life I have experienced challenges and obstacles which I have had to overcome, as all people with disabilities do. Those barriers are not always physical ones, but also barriers which are put in front of you by other people.
When I grew up, there wasn’t someone like me who I could look up to, but then I read about Terry Fox, who was a Canadian athlete and had one of his legs amputated due to cancer. His epic run across Canada to raise money and awareness for cancer research inspired me to start running and become an athlete.
I had always wanted to run, but the equipment and technology wasn’t available to me when I was growing up. That all changed just before my very first marathon in 2004 in New York, when Össur [a leader in Orthopaedics] provided me with my first set of running blades, and they still support me to this day, over 100 marathons later.
What further progress is needed to improve accessibility and inclusion in the sporting world?
Throughout my career I’ve participated in many racing events across the world, including 20 marathons last year. Unfortunately, I still don’t see enough people with disabilities or from other minority groups taking part.
Sport sparks and creates joy, improving both physical and emotional wellbeing, and I want everybody, regardless of any disabilities that they live with, to have access to sport.
There is much to be done to make the sporting world more inclusive and accessible. And inclusivity isn’t only about providing accessible toilets – important as that is – but about ensuring that it becomes a central part of decision making, rather than a tick-box exercise.
If you could change one thing about the sporting world today, what would it be?
It would be that everyone has access to sport and the incredible benefits of taking part, and that real social change happens across all of society. I want to utilise the experiences I have had to engage with my communities and be a shining example of true inclusion.
What inspired the idea to launch the Richard Whitehead Foundation in 2021?
I wanted to set up my own foundation to help as many people living with disabilities as possible achieve their potential and goals.
We know the barriers that people who live with disabilities face every day and we want to remove these barriers and improve lives through the power of physical activity. The individual is always at the centre of the Foundation’s work, and we provide life-changing support, mentoring, advice, equipment and opportunities. I’m incredibly proud of the transformative work we do and the difference we make to the people we support.
How has the foundation grown and evolved since then, in terms of the programmes and projects it has launched?
Since 2021, the Richard Whitehead Foundation has grown from delivering a small number of projects into running a more established portfolio of inclusive sport programmes, with a clear focus on removing barriers and widening access for disabled people.
One of the key projects during this period has been the three-year Nissan Possibilities beneficiaries project, which concluded in 2025. Delivered in partnership with Nissan, Össur, and Proactive Prosthetics, alongside clinical limb centres, the project supported young adults with lower limb loss, amputation or limb difference to participate in running and other sports. Over three years, 12 beneficiaries were provided with access to tailored running prosthetics, specialist clinical input and ongoing wraparound support.
Nissan Possibilities also enabled the development of the Supported Runner Project. This project trained experienced runners to provide practical support that enables disabled people to take part in organised running events. Since then, it has expanded beyond large-scale events to include regional and local races and extended it into other sports, such as swimming.
Alongside programme development, the Foundation has continued to grow its community engagement and profile through Run with Rich, an annual fundraising event. The event includes a fully inclusive 5km course alongside a shorter sensory mile designed to be accessible to all.
What have been the organisation’s greatest achievements so far?
One of the greatest achievements of the Richard Whitehead Foundation has been its significant growth and increasing influence since 2021, both in the scale of its programmes and in its role as a leading advocate for inclusion in sport.
The Foundation has evolved from delivering individual projects into a recognised charity with national reach, supporting disabled people across multiple pathways into physical activity. Through our projects and programmes, the Foundation has directly enabled disabled people to access sport in ways that were previously unavailable to them, from providing life-changing running prosthetics, to supporting first-time marathon runners, to helping athletes progress to national and international levels.
It has been a huge highlight to see so many disabled people move from facing barriers to participation to actively engaging, competing, and thriving in sport. Equally important has been the Foundation’s success in raising awareness of the importance of inclusive sport. By working in partnership with sporting bodies, event organisers, and corporate supporters, the charity has influenced how events and organisations think about accessibility and inclusion.
What are your biggest ambitions for the foundation going forward?
Our goal is to extend and expand our reach nationally to support more people with disabilities to get active in their communities and wider afield.
The Richard Whitehead’s mission is to inspire and educate, breaking down stereotypes and promoting inclusion in sport and activity to support disabled people to feel confident, valued and motivated to achieve their personal goals. We will continue to ensure that lived experience shapes everything we do.
As one of our esteemed speakers at Naidex in March, what can delegates expect from your talk?
I’m looking forward to returning to Naidex in March. I really enjoyed being there in 2025 and meeting the delegates, and so many like-minded organisations. I’m proud to speak at this event and everyone who attends my talk this year can expect an interactive session, with powerful and inspirational messages of inclusion, resilience and advocacy.
CASE STUDIES: The real-life impact of the Richard Whitehead Foundation on disabled individuals
Claire and Jess – Robin Hood Half Marathon 2025
In 2025, wheelchair athlete Claire Ryan completed the Robin Hood Half Marathon with the support of two key partners, her assistance dog, Tilly, and a trained support runner.
Tilly provides calm reassurance throughout the event, helping Claire stay grounded, particularly in crowded or noisy areas. Working alongside her, the support runner offers motivation, practical support and course awareness, enabling Claire to navigate the route smoothly and confidently.
With Jess supporting her every step of the way, Claire was able to approach uneven or unpredictable terrain with confidence, maintain a steady pace and navigate busy sections that might otherwise feel overwhelming -- “Jess was a blessing in disguise she helped move other runners out of the way for me [to get past].”
Claire reflected -- “Without Jess, my running buddy, I would not have got through the Robin Hood half marathon, due to my Autism and helping me support my assistance dog throughout the course.”
Pinky and Nina – London & Brighton Marathons 2025
Pinky reached out to the Richard Whitehead Foundation to seek support to complete various upcoming events, including the Brighton and London Marathons in 2025. She was matched with experienced runner, Nina, who was acted as her support runner for both events.
Pinky explains why she felt she would benefit from support: “I suffer with severe vertigo, which increases my anxiety and has caused depression. I'm also partially deaf and usually wear hearing aids, but I can’t wear them when I run, as sweat can damage them.
“Prior to the pandemic, I was extremely outgoing and happy-go-lucky. But after lockdown, I struggled. Friends started noticing changes in me. I was no longer the life and soul of the party. I didn’t feel comfortable in crowded areas. Someone mentioned I was showing ADHD traits, one of which is anxiety, and I’ve since had a diagnosis of ADHD.
“It’s been a hard few years. I’d sign up for races, eager to run, but would freeze before the day, afraid of falling over. I’ve broken ribs and fingers from vertigo attacks in the past and if it’s windy, I won’t even leave the house.
“My support runner, Nina, helped me feel safe, and eases some of the anxiety – both from my vertigo and being in such a big crowd. She was absolutely phenomenal; she helped make the day perfect. She knew what to say, when to say it and what I needed before I did. I can’t thank the Richard Whitehead Foundation enough for making this possible.”
Photo credit: David Baird
Head over to Richard's Website for more: https://richardwhiteheadmbe.com/