Torch begins its journey at English home of Paralympic Games

British Paralympic athletes Gregor Ewan and Helen Raynsford battled pouring rain to light the flame. "It has been such an honour to be able to take part in this," said Raynsford, the first Paralympic champion in para-rowing when the sport debuted in Beijing in 2008. Ewan has competed in wheelchair curling three times at the Winter Games. The Paralympic movement dates back to 1948, when German neurologist Ludwig Guttmann organised sporting events for injured war veterans at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, northwest of London.