Paralympic gold medalists present Wild Tracks film in stage tour

Two of British Cycling’s Paralympic gold medalists, Karen Darke MBE and Steve Bate MBE, recently completed an ascent of the world’s tallest stand-alone mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro… by bicycle! Setting off on a cycling adventure to reach the mountain, before cycling to the ‘roof of Africa’, Karen (on a handbike) and Steve were filmed by award-winning filmmaker Mike Webster of Spiral Out Pictures, and are now bringing this incredible story to theatre stages around the country in Wild Tracks, presented by Speakers from the Edge, in association with Hebtroco.

Both winning gold in Para-cycling for Great Britain in Rio 2016, Karen and Steve now share this incredible journey of riding to ascend the iconic mountain of Kilimanjaro together. With a diverse team, Wild Tracks explores themes of challenge, diversity and human potential. This evening of film and insight will illuminate the gifts that lie within the tough-stuff of life and how we might transform what, at first, seems messy, into something rich in meaning and magic. From the physical demands of the journey to the emotional healing that mountains bring, Wild Tracks is a journey of discovery and inspiration, a rare opportunity to hear, first-hand, a story of resilience, transformation and human connection.

Following a climbing accident in 1991, leaving her paralysed from the chest down, Karen went on to become a multiple Guinness World Record holder for a 2018 land-speed arm-power hand-bike record, and a 2022-23 crossing - to create the ‘Pole of Possibility’ - in Antarctica. From skiing across icecaps to kayak journeys at extreme latitudes and hand-cycle treks in the world’s biggest mountain ranges, Karen is a passionate advocate for the value of nature and the power of an ‘adventure mindset’ for everyday life. These experiences, combined with unique studies of mind, resilience and performance (Paralympic gold and silver), have led to helping people embrace all of life’s experiences as opportunities to learn and grow.

Steve is a visually impaired New Zealand born British Paralympic cyclist and adventure seeker, who was first introduced to the idea of para-cycling by Karen, both having reached the summit of El Capitan’s 3000ft rock face in Yosemite, California. Steve has completed the climb three times, including a solo ascent of the Zodiac route, becoming the first visually impaired person to do so. With just a 10% field of vision, Steve competes in tandem races, riding with sight pilot Adam Duggleby from 2014 until 2021, the pair winning two Paralympic gold medals and a bronze in Rio 2016 and silver in Tokyo 2020, as well as 3 world titles. Post Tokyo, Steve teamed up with Chris Latham, winning bronze at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and adding his fourth world title winning the pursuit in Paris 2022 World Championships. The pairing are now preparing for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.