Lancashire paraplegic amputee athlete to travel across Komodo National Park

Shaun Gash, 55, will lead the Komodo Challenge this September, embarking on a six -day expedition across Indonesia’s remote Komodo National Park alongside a team of four other wheelchair users. The expedition will raise vital funds for four charities: Spinal Research, Spinal Injuries Scotland, Leukaemia Luke UK, and Chameleon Bodies. 

 The team will kayak more than 100 kilometres through open ocean during manta ray and turtle migration season, navigating powerful currents, long distances and unpredictable conditions.  

When on the water, each team member will kayak independently, supported by boats carrying wheelchairs, food, tents and safety equipment.  

The team will depart on 14 September, travelling via Bali and Labuan Bajo, before entering Komodo National Park on 17 September. They will camp on uninhabited islands, including the famous Pink Beach, operating with full permissions and armed park rangers due to the presence of Komodo dragons. 

The Komodo Challenge follows Shaun’s Zambezi River expedition – a 300km-long canoe trek in hippo-filled waters – but brings added complexity. The ocean means stronger currents and longer distances, and the need for stronger safety planning. 

Shaun said: “This is absolutely my most ambitious challenge to date – nothing’s ever come close to it in terms of difficulty. 

“It’s been months in planning, and training is ongoing, but I couldn’t be more excited to get started. We’ve assembled the absolute dream team, and I know everyone has got what it takes to see this challenge through.  

“I’m mostly looking forward to visiting Pink Beach,” Shaun added. “But more than that, it’s about proving these places don’t have to be off‑limits.” 

 Shaun was paralysed from the chest down following a car crash at the age of 20. In 2018, he lost half of his right leg in a mountaineering accident. Rather than scaling back his ambitions, he has continued to pursue increasingly challenging expeditions, driven by a belief that action is the most powerful way to change perceptions. 

He added: "People still underestimate what wheelchair users can do. If this changes how even a few organisations or individuals think, it’s worth it.” 

Three team members will use RGK FX wheelchairs, chosen for their ability to fold compactly for boat transport and perform well on varied terrain once ashore, with additional front wheels providing off-road stability. 

The expedition is supported by Sunrise Medical, the parent group of RGK, which has helped fund support boats and crew. Shaun, who works as an International Product Specialist for RGK, says authenticity was central to the expedition. 

 “I wanted to use the same type of equipment people rely on day to day,” he said. “It helps show that independence and adventure aren’t separate things – they’re connected.” 

 The journey has required months of dialogue with expedition operators, adjusting safety protocols and logistics to accommodate wheelchair users at sea. Shaun describes the process as a learning curve for everyone involved. 

 “The operators are learning too – and that’s how lasting change happens.” 

 Despite growing interest in adaptive travel, wheelchair users are still routinely turned away from adventure experiences due to liability concerns and assumptions about risk. Ultimately, Shaun hopes the Komodo Challenge will inspire greater ambition and inclusion across travel and adventure industries.  

Shaun commented: “So often the answer is no before the question has really been explored. We want to show that with planning, support and the right mindset, accessibility in extreme environments is absolutely achievable. 

 “If this sparks support, challenges assumptions, or shifts perceptions about where wheelchair users belong, then it will have made a meaningful difference.” 

 Donations can be made to Shaun’s fundraiser at https://givestar.io/gs/rolling-round-the-komodos 

 To find out more about RGK, go to rgkwheelchairs.com/