Can you help level the playing field for the Australian Paraclimbing Team?

Paraclimbing is a rapidly growing sport worldwide, and has been growing in popularity in Australia since the establishment of the Australian Paraclimbing Team in 2019. Last year we saw the highest number of Australian paraclimbers competing internationally, and the highest number of athletes competing for a spot on the 2024 team.

As we head into the 2024 international competition season, our athletes have their sights set on competing on the IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup circuit - and need your help to make it happen!

There is no funding available to the Australian Paraclimbing Team to help with the cost of travelling to these competitions, so this represents a major hurdle for our athletes. Your support will therefore have a major impact on their ability to compete and represent Australia on the world stage!

All funds received will be disseminated evenly amongst the members of the Australian Paraclimbing Team competing internationally this year, and will go towards training, travel, and accommodation costs for them to attend:

• IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup - Salt Lake City, USA (May)
• IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup - Innsbruck, Austria (June)
• IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup - France (July; TBC)

Meet the team!

Russell Harrison | @johnnymetronome

Russell, an incomplete paraplegic since 2004, has been on the Australian Paraclimbing team since 2019. He first competed internationally at the 2019 Paraclimbing World Championships in Briancon, France, and plans to compete in 2024 on the European leg of the IFSC World Cup circuit. Russell, who is also a dedicated member of Adaptive Climbing Victoria, is motivated by climbing to set goals, push himself, and continually improve.

Sarah Larcombe | @sarah_la

A right leg below-knee amputee, Sarah is a highly accomplished climber, being a member of the Australian Paraclimbing Team since 2022 and a member of The North Face Australia athlete team since 2023. In her first year of international competition, Sarah became the first Australian to medal at and win an IFSC World Cup, and she has since medalled at every international event she has competed in, including six World Cups and one World Championships. In 2024, Sarah is looking forward to testing herself once again on the world stage in her third year of international competition, as well as chasing her outdoor climbing goals and continuing her advocacy work with Adaptive Climbing Victoria.

Eddie Sparks

Eddie Sparks was an outdoor rock climber for 12 years before she had a climbing accident in 2014, where she suffered a traumatic brain injury and became legally blind. After a year of rehabilitation in hospital, her disability led to her exploring indoor climbing as a new, safer hobby. She has been competing in State and National level climbing competitions in Australia since 2017, and first joined the Australian Paraclimbing in 2019 and made her international competition debut at the 2019 Paraclimbing World Championships in Briancon, France. She’s looking forward to joining the IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup circuit again in 2024, and broadening her climbing horizons.

Chris Astill | @thespearofmars

Chris was a climber and volunteer operator in remote and vertical rescue teams before he sustained a spinal cord injury while paragliding in 2022, resulting in T10 Paraplegia. As a lifelong outdoor adventurer, he believes sport has profound physical, psychological and social benefits and so has continued pursuing his goals post-injury as an adaptive athlete, and now as a member of the Australian Paraclimbing Team. In 2024, Chris aims to take on his first year of international competition by competing in the full IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup circuit, and once again balancing campusing and campus life through paraclimbing and post-graduate psychology study.

Sam Jakes | @sam.jakess

Sam, a lower limb amputee, lost his left leg in late 2022 due to ongoing complications from childhood bone cancer. He has been climbing for three years, and since his amputation has embraced climbing with a new level of determination and creativity. He has learnt to adapt his climbing style to better leverage his prosthetic, and in his first year as a member of the Australian Paraclimbing Team is looking forward to testing himself on the IFSC World Cup circuit. Sam is also excited to experiment with prosthetic attachments and their applications to climbing, and he hopes to contribute new ideas to the rapidly growing international community of paraclimbers.

Angus Taylor | @applep1e

A left leg below-knee amputee, Angus has been outdoor rock climbing for over 12 years. After an accident bouldering in Joshua Tree National Park in 2017, Angus is learning how to apply a new body to new challenges and competitive climbing presents an opportunity to test himself and apply previous experience to new arenas. Having previously climbed up to the sport grade of AU 28 (5.13a, 7C+) Angus is excited to better this record post-injury and be an advocate for the paraclimbing community. In 2024, Angus is looking forward to representing Australia on the European leg of the IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup circuit. 

Jason Whiter | @jason.whiter.90

Jason is a passionate vision impaired athlete, having lost most of his eyesight as a result of diabetic complications. He found his passion for sport climbing in early 2023, and putting aside his other athletic pursuits, has dedicated himself to training ahead of his first year as a member of the Australian Paraclimbing Team, and his first IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup season in 2024. As a proud disability advocate and athlete in blind and low vision sports, this year marks the realisation of Jason’s long-held dream to represent Australia on the world stage, and he’s excited to both challenge himself and use this experience to raise more awareness about the sport of paraclimbing.

Glen Todd | @glen_todd_

Born with cerebral palsy, Glen is the youngest male athlete on the Australian Paraclimbing Team, and has been climbing since 2022. His disability affects his strength, fine motor skills, and range of movement of his right arm and leg. But despite his physical challenges and being relatively new to competition climbing, his journey in climbing embodies his lifelong passion for sport and love of being active. He has been dedicated to his training ahead of his first year of international competition, and is looking forward to representing Australia on the world stage in 2024.

Josh Alegre | @joshuaeal

In 2019, Josh was diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraparesis, a rare degenerative neurological disorder affecting control and function of his legs. Despite the challenges he has faced, Josh discovered rock climbing in early 2023, and in this journey has defied his own expectations and drastically enhanced his quality of life. He is passionate about both competition and outdoor climbing, and finds motivation in the unique challenges and breathtaking landscapes of sport climbing. In 2024, Josh aims to represent Australia at his first Paraclimbing World Cup, as well as further develop his skills in outdoor climbing, aspiring to enable more paraclimbers to experience the joy of climbing.

Rani Tesiram | @ranitesiram

Rani has been climbing for 13 years, and after having to quit climbing while battling a mystery illness and progressive muscle weakness over the course of several years, has returned to the sport ready to take on the world. Now, with a better understanding of their muscle-degrading metabolic condition and how it affects their body and climbing, Rani is heading into 2024 as a member of the Australian Paraclimbing Team, and looking forward to competing in their first IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup, while completing their PhD studies at the University of Queensland. Rani is also a dedicated advocate in disability and climbing, working with Paraclimbing QLD to promote adaptive climbing events in Brisbane.

All donations of $2 or more to this fundraiser are tax deductible - any amount helps!