A Paralympic double gold medal winning cyclist kicked open an annual event to promote awareness of physical and learning disabilities to residents in Hackney.

David Stone, 32, spoke about his life and his journey into the sport to around 70 people at the Big Do 2013 event at The Petchey Academy in Shacklewell Lane.

The event also featured live music, a theatre workshop, a lesson in Paralympic ball sport boccia and a signing session to teach people how to sign.

Joan Foley, project coordinator for learning difficulty advocacy service Pohwer said: “It was a really great event. “People were inspired by David and what he said about his life.

“He told everyone he wanted to do something with his life rather than drift and how he nearly never went into cycling.

“Everyone was amazed to see him.

“Torch-bearer and boccia coach Kayum Choudhury taught the sport to some of the attendees.

“Everybody was up dancing to the police band while Immediate Theatre from Dalston got people up singing and moving.

“We had a barn dance to finish that went down well.

“There was a good turnout and everybody got a tombola prize.”

Hackney Council funded the event and their head of integrated learning disability services Hector Shakeel Bayayi attended.