Power2Inspire’s journey began in 2012 at the London Olympics, ignited by a unique friendship and a shared dream. It all started when John Willis invited Tim Martin to watch a hockey match at the Games. Given that Tim had been trying to persuade John to participate in an able-bodied triathlon relay for five years, it was probably not surprising that the thrill of the Olympics, proved to be the tipping point and John agreed.

John Willis, born without arms and legs, has never let his physical challenges define him. His courage and resilience have inspired countless people—none more so than his friend Tim Martin. Tim pestered John, a man whose courage and determination had motivated him, through numerous triathlons and a couple of Ironmen.
The challenge was clear: John would swim the triathlon’s swimming leg – a daunting task for anyone; Tim, not disabled, would cycle the 40kms and he would recruit a third member of the team, also not disabled, to finish with the 10 km run.
“How far do I have to swim and in what time?”
John asked hesitantly.
“A mile, under an hour,”
came the reply.
Initially sceptical, John took the plunge, clocking 76 minutes in his first mile attempt. Determined to improve, he trained hard and brought his time down to 66 minutes. Encouraged by this progress, John pushed himself further.
The good news? The race distance was slightly less than a mile—1,500 meters. The bad news? It would take place in open water at Eton Dorney’s rowing lake.


Setting his sights on not coming last, John smashed expectations, completing the swim in 52 minutes and 23 seconds. With teammate Henry Brown sprinting through the 10,000-metre run in just 36 minutes after Tim completed the cycling leg, the team placed 18th out of 27. More importantly, they had an unforgettable time, proving that disabled and non-disabled athletes could compete together and have immense fun.

The birth of a vision
Reflecting on their triumph, Tim and John wondered how they could channel this incredible experience into something lasting. They decided to raise funds and secured £20,000, half from property developers, Hill Residential. However, when searching for a charity promoting inclusive sports, they couldn’t find one that fit their vision.
John’s wife had the simple yet life-changing suggestion:
“Why don’t you set up a charity yourself?”

And so Power2Inspire was born in 2013
A trawl through the archives reveals John doing an early talk at King’s College School in Cambridge, with the charity’s first branding!
It became clear that disabled and non-disabled could participate in sport together with great success and lots of fun – but more needed to be done to encourage this.
Rooted in John’s passion and vision, the charity aims to ensure everyone, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to participate in sports together. It’s a movement that celebrates inclusion, builds community, and inspires others to overcome challenges just like John and Tim did.

Inspired? Then Get Involved!
If you would like to support us in our mission to “embed inclusive sport in the sporting, education and community landscapes” then we would love to hear from you. We are always looking out for people willing to fundraise for Power2Inspire through their own inspiring means. Or, you could volunteer at one of our events, or you could give to the ongoing work of Power2Inspire. Click the button here to find out more.