Sophia Warner: the Paralympian proving adventure belongs to everyone

Staysure is proud sponsor of the Superhero Series. 

For Paralympian Sophia Warner, adventure isn’t about medals or podiums – it’s about removing barriers. That belief inspired her to create the Superhero Series – the UK’s only mass-participation sports event for people with disabilities and long-term health conditions. Her mission is simple: create a space where everyone can take part on their own terms. 

From lakeside swims to cycle tracks and finish-line celebrations, the focus is on joy, confidence and community. 

“I wanted to create events for people who just want to enjoy sport without taking it too seriously,” Sophia says.   

“You just have to think differently and work out how, not if.”  

Superheroes Series founder Sophia Warner with a superhero volunteer and Staysure CEO Ryan Howsam (left to right). 

Sophia Warner competed in the 100m and 200m sprints at the London 2012 Paralympics. But her spark for change began years earlier – in 1995, when she entered the London Triathlon and quickly discovered how unprepared most events were for people with disabilities.

“I couldn’t get my wetsuit off by myself and I couldn’t get my bike off the bike rack,” she recalls. “Back then, there were very few people with disabilities in mass-participation events.” 

That moment stayed with her. Why should disability sport only exist at the elite level? Why weren’t there fun, grassroots events designed for everyone? 

After a career in sport, sponsorship and marketing, Sophia decided to change that herself. 

“That’s what sets the Superhero Series apart,” says Sophia. “It’s people who want to do sport for fun. Some start small, then come back and push themselves further. It’s about boosting confidence as to what’s possible.”

The Superhero Series is the UK’s biggest mass-participation sports series designed specifically for people with disabilities or long-term conditions. Its summer and winter editions welcome superheroes of every kind. 

The format is triathlon-style – swim, cycle, push/run – but with a twist. The rules are simple: 

“I remember as a kid, when I'd be out running with my brother, people would ask if I was training for the Paralympics. You don’t say that to someone else who’s able-bodied running around the park.”  

• Do it your way (with sidekicks, wheelchairs, boats or arm floats) 
• Do as much or as little as you like 
• No time limits, no pressure – just fun 

Celebrities often join in too, including TV presenter Briony Williams and Invictus Games medallist and broadcaster, JJ Chalmers. They, along with a host of other well-known faces, bring encouragement and cheer along the course. The result feels more like a celebration than a competition. 

Sophia has seen participant confidence grow year on year: “Some people start by completing one stage of the shortest distance. And we’ve seen people come back to do the full distance all by themselves. So I think it just boosts their confidence.” 

One of the most powerful messages of the Superhero Series is that you don’t need to be fit, fast or athletic to join in. 

“We're not about [being] fit,” she says. “The problem with disability sport is people always relate it to the Paralympics – there doesn’t seem to be a gap.  

Superhero participants at the Superheroes Series. 

Some of Sophia’s favourite memories come from the participants themselves. 

She remembers Eve, who joined when she was just 2 years old and used a wheelchair full-time. “She took her first ever steps at Winter Wonder World. She’d never walked before, and she was showing off. Now she’s 11, she swims with armbands, rides a trike, and walks the last kilometre with her parents.”  

Even celebrity participant Briony Williams joined in, despite difficulties with swimming, due to her disability.  

“She came in the first year and she's never been able to swim because she only has the use of one arm properly,” recalls Sophia. “She then went off and had swimming lessons to learn to swim and she's now doing the whole swim by herself.” 

Stories like these are what make the events shine. 

TV presenter Clare Balding celebrates with Superhero Series participants. 

At Staysure, we help people every year travel with confidence, even when they’re living with pre-existing medical conditions. Partnering with the Superhero Series is a natural fit – because both of us believe adventure should be barrier-free. 

Sophia says: “We rely solely on super partners to make the events happen. We gift such a large proportion of our places and the rest are heavily subsidised. We realise that often people with disabilities are on lower incomes, so keeping it affordable is vital.” 

Just like the Superhero Series empowers participants to join in on their own terms, Staysure helps travellers explore the world with the reassurance that their health is covered. 

“Staysure are talking to the same people as us,” says Sophia. “People who are adventurous and want to travel or do sport.  

“What I like most about our partnership is that together we’re encouraging superheroes to do things outside of the norm.” 

For many people, a new diagnosis or long-term condition can feel like the end of possibility. Sophia wants to show it can be the start of something else. 

“My advice is to come and have a go,” says Sophia.  

Every Superhero event is packed with moments of joy – someone finishing a course with friends, someone else swimming for the first time, or simply taking part their own way. 

“Being a superhero means unleashing your superpowers in the most unusual ways,” says Sophia.  

In short, it could mean finishing a race. Or it could mean starting one. 

The adventure doesn’t stop in summer, either. The series continues with winter editions to keep confidence and community alive all year. 

At Home Winter Wonderwheels powered by Marvel 

• 8–23 November 2025 
• Your home, garden, neighbourhood, leisure centre or local park – wherever you want it to be. 
• Take on a virtual race around the world as part of hundreds-strong SUPER TEAMS. Join from anywhere, in any way that works for you – walking, wheeling, running or mixing it up. 

Read more

Winter Wonderwheels 

• 7 December 2025 
• Dorney Lake, Windsor 
• Superheroes are invited to dress up, sparkle up and join festive missions of 1km, 5km or 10km. Expect (fake) snow, plenty of Christmas spirit, and even an appearance from a certain man in red. 

Read more 

We believe health conditions or disabilities shouldn’t hold anyone back – whether from seeing the world or from crossing a finish line. Sophia’s story reminds us that adventure is always possible when the right support is in place. 

So whether you’re planning your next trip or cheering on the superheroes at the next event, remember: barriers can be broken, limits can be redefined, and adventure always comes first. 

At Staysure, we design travel insurance with medical conditions in mind – so you can explore the world with confidence. 

Get a quote today