Church-goers are to do a sponsored walk to raise money to buy a racing wheelchair for a paralympic athlete to take him to the next level.

John Smith, from West Kingsdown, has seen huge success in wheelchair racing, taking silver at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.

The 28-year-old, also known as Johnboy, has now received the backing from members from Light and Life Chart Sutton Church who are set to walk 18 miles from Dartford to Maidstone on Saturday, May 19 to raise £5,000 for a hi-tech carbon-fibre chair.

The equipment will give him a new edge after falling just shy of the top ten in this year's London marathon, placing 11th.

"My team and my coach concluded that I need a new chair to be up to scratch with the big boys," he said.

"The support from the sponsored walk has been overwhelming. A lot of the people I don’t know and some are friends and family but to have that sort of support is unbelievable."

Mr Smith has seen a rapid rise to being one of the top ten wheelchair athletes in the world, having started in 2015 and now entering his third season.

His inspirational story started with a tragic injury he sustained when he was shot by gamekeepers at age 16 and out lamping for rabbits.

One of the bullets struck his spine, leaving him paralysed from the waist down.

Now, the marathon racer seems on top of the world.

"I’m actually fitter and better off now than when I was when I was able bodied," he said.

"I wasn’t one to just sit there. A lot of people do that but I’m not in that frame of mind. You can’t hide away and do nothing with your life. You’ve got to do the best with the cards you’re dealt."

Some of his early sporting dreams were almost dashed in 2016 after having his chair stolen from his home shortly after qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Fortunately, the track star was re-united with his chair after it was anonymously left outside a house.

Currently £245 has been raised towards the £5,000 fundraising target.

To sponsor the walk visit tinyurl.com/helpjohnboy