LOS ANGELES 2028 PARALYMPICS FOR DOVER CITIZEN

Tom Mears, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis (MS), will participate in the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles after securing a Guinness World Record. On June 15th, he took part in the half marathon, achieving a world record for the fastest time—one hour, 33 minutes, and eight seconds—over the 13.1-mile distance for a male living with Multiple Sclerosis.

Upon collecting the award, he said: 'Running is one of the few things that alleviates the heaviness in my legs. When I run, I feel like I am taking control—not just of the pain, but of the condition itself.'

Tom’s father and older sister have also been affected by the illness. 'We only speak positively about it,' he added. 'This run is for them too. I want people to see that it is not over after the diagnosis—far from it.'

More than 150,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with MS, which equates to about 7,100 new cases a year. Tom has also raised funds for the Kent MS Therapy Centre, reaching the sum of £1,440. When asked why he chose to run for the charity, he replied: 'They helped my sister when she was younger, and they have been a huge part of our journey as a family. It's about giving back, but also showing people that community and care matters.'

He continued: "'I’m a firm believer that exercise and nutrition are some of the biggest factors in living with MS. It’s a small part you can play in your MS journey that could make a huge difference in the long run.'"