A DISABLED Gorleston man is hoping to let his hands rather than his feet do the talking and take part in marathons.

Tom Green, 27, of Elder Green, has desperate to find the �3,500 to fund a new hand cycle so he can participate in marathons and half-marathons to raise money for charity.

The wheelchair-bound former Lynn Grove High School pupil, who broke two vertebrae in his back during a 2005 fall, hopes to buy a DaVinci 24-speed Veloce hand cycle so he can raise money for cancer charities, including the Big C and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Tom was inspired to take up the challenge by his parents, who have both fought cancer and he would be using the hand cycle to get around courses, sitting in a specially designed chair with his feet out in front of him.

However, he needs to raise the money first and was hoping for support from the business community.

He added: “It would mean the world to me to get sponsorship so the good work that these charities do can go on for a little bit longer and they can help other families in the same way they helped my mum and dad.”

Mr Green was paralysed after falling on steps while visiting Nottingham for a job interview in 2005.

Since then he has been wheelchair-bound and living on disability benefits, but hopes to take up marathons to keep himself fit.

The DaVinci Veloce has 24 gears and is designed to fit onto almost any wheelchair thanks to its docking clamp system.

However, part of the money will pay for a new specially-adapted chair Mr Green can use on the cycle.

In return for funding, he is offering to have the company logos on his cycle.

Any business, charity group or organisation who can help Tim realise his dream, can email tom.green1584@gmail.com.