A tribute to Peter Harrison (1937-2021)

The British Paralympic Association is saddened to hear that Peter Harrison CBE, the founder of The Peter Harrison Foundation, passed away peacefully on 18 June 2021.

Over the years, Peter has played a huge part in the Paralympic movement across the UK, donating almost £1million to ensure that disability is always included on the sporting agenda. Peter valued everyone involved in sport regardless of their skill level or talent, and his interest spanned from grassroots participation, right up to those in the elite Paralympic programme.

When The Peter Harrison Foundation learnt the challenges the BPA faced due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they donated an extra gift to help ensure the athletes had the best possible experience at Tokyo 2020, despite knowing they themselves would not be able to attend the games due to restrictions on travel overseas. This is the kind and generous individual Peter has always shown us to be, and how he will be fondly remembered at the BPA.

The Foundation has been fundamental in ensuring that our athletes have had access to the latest research at Loughborough University, as well as providing world leading medical professionals and equipment at both Rio 2016 and the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Games.

The Peter Harrison Foundation’s support has grown along with the Paralympic movement, with increasing gifts from Athens 2004, Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

This Summer the Peter Harrison Foundation Performance and Medical Centre will be an incredible legacy and one which athletes have said is essential to their success. We thank Peter for every athlete’s performance knowing that they were able to inspire the nation due to the Foundation’s ongoing support.

Peter Harrison believed in and honoured our vision; through sport inspire a better world for disabled people, and we were delighted to have him in the ParalympicsGB family for 17 years.