Every now and then, a story comes along that reminds you just how much grit can be packed into a single person. Not the loud, headline-grabbing kind — but the quieter sort, built over time, through setbacks most of us would struggle to comprehend.
Sixteen-year-old Toby Richardson, from Purton, is one of those stories.
At just 11, Toby’s life took a sharp and unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer that wrapped itself around his spinal cord. The surgery and treatment that followed saved his life, but left him only able to take a handful of steps. For many, that might have marked an ending. For Toby, it was something else entirely.
With the steady backing of his family, he found his way into sport — first through wheelchair rugby, before discovering a real talent for racing. It didn’t take long for that spark to turn into something more serious.
Now training under Micky Bushell, Toby has climbed to the top of the national rankings and currently sits as Great Britain’s number one in his age group, as well as world number two in the under-17 category. His events range from the explosive 100 metres through to the more demanding 1,500 metres — a spread that says as much about his determination as it does his ability.
The long-term goal is clear: a place at the 2028 Paralympic Games.
Behind the scenes, though, progress like this rarely happens in isolation. Training, travel, equipment — it all adds up. That’s where local support can make a real difference.
Step forward Urathon, a Calne-based business specialising in disability equipment. Managing Director Lucy Carson first came across Toby’s story while scrolling through social media — the kind of moment that might usually pass without much thought.
This time, it didn’t.
Seeing both the challenges he had faced and the attitude he brought to them, the company decided to step in. Urathon has now taken on the role of sponsor, helping ease some of the practical pressures that come with competing at this level.
For Toby’s mum, Leanne Richardson, that support has made a tangible difference.
Training sessions in Yate, twice a week, come with the usual costs — fuel, time, logistics — the less visible side of sport that often goes unnoticed. Having that burden lightened, even slightly, means Toby can keep his focus where it belongs.
And that, ultimately, is what this is about.
Not just medals or rankings, but the chance for a young athlete from Wiltshire to keep moving forward, one race at a time, towards something that once might have seemed out of reach.
