Manchester’s Lamin Manneh, inspirational disabled war veteran, DIY SOS star and Mobility Roadshow Ambassador, has won bronze at Shot Put and Discus at the Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida.

Lamin will be officially opening The 2016 Mobility Roadshow at Silverstone on 26^th May, 10am.

Since 1983, the Mobility Roadshow has been the UK’s leading disabled consumer event that showcases the latest adapted vehicles, products and services for independent driving and mobility. This remarkable event is organised by the charity Mobility Choice so that the widest choice of accessible vehicles, adapted driving controls and mobility products can be trialled and tested – being held at the iconic home of the British Grand Prix for the first time this year.

Lamin rose to fame following his appearance on the DIY SOS Big Build ‘Homes for Veterans’ Special which involved the redevelopment of an entire dilapidated terraced street in Manchester to provide homes for injured servicemen and women. Lamin, a 39-year-old disabled ex-Guardsman and his family were grateful recipients of one of the new accessible homes. The two-part DIY SOS that Lamin appeared in generated significant press coverage as HRH The Duke of Cambridge and HRH Prince Henry of Wales visited the extensive two-week build.

Following this Lamin has just finished competing in The Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida – a Paralympic-style international competition for injured servicemen and women set up by Prince Harry. Lamin competed in several events during the Games and won Bronze at shot put with an impressive distance of 7.57m and threw the discus 19.44m to secure a further bronze.

Lamin comments: “Competing at the Invictus Games was simply awesome, I will never forget it. The atmosphere was electric all the way through and to win a Bronze medal was the best feeling. The Games have been such an important focus for me however I am now looking forward to opening The Mobility Roadshow. I will be able to share my Invictus experiences with visitors at the show and participate in the various accessible sports on show. When living with disability, playing adaptive sport is so important for a positive mental attitude.”

Lamin adds: “I have always had a massive passion for cars and sport so the opportunity to officially open The Mobility Roadshow and drive around Silverstone is a dream come true. I am so honoured to be recognised as a VIP and to be an event Ambassador.” 

Lamin, originally from Gambia, moved to Britain in 2005 to join the British Army. As Gambia is a Commonwealth country, residents are allowed to join the British Armed Forces and Lamin served in the Irish Guards for five years. On New Year’s Eve 2010, he was severely injured by an exploding IED in Afghanistan resulting in the loss of both legs and one arm. Lamin survived this horrific ordeal and now continues to rebuild his life whilst looking for opportunities to motivate and inspire fellow disabled individuals.

www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk