The wheelchair basketball star, a member of the British team that won bronze at the Athens 2004 Paralympics and gold at the 2005 Paralympic World Cup in Manchester, is on a mission to encourage people to nominate someone who has made a difference in their local community, such as somebody who has broken down barriers to allow disabled people to take part in sport, or perhaps someone who has them self overcome a disability to participate in sport.

Adepitan is working alongside Paralympic Games' Presenting Partner Lloyds TSB, the only Presenting Partner of both the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays, and to mark the start of the search, the bank have commissioned a set of striking visual images showing local Paralympic heroes with the people that have supported and inspired them.

The images feature athletes in iconic locations in the five Flame Festival towns that the Paralympic Torch will visit - London, Belfast, Edinburgh, Cardiff and birthplace of the Paralympics Stoke Mandeville - and the images include athletes who are linked to these key cities, such as upcoming wheelchair basketball talent Ella Beaumont (pictured right).

Adepitan spoke of his experience of carrying the Paralympic Flame.

"I was lucky to become a Torchbearer in 2004 when the Olympic Flame passed through London for the first time in 56 years as part of the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay," he said.

"It was an incredible day and one of my most enduring memories of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"It's not just the famous and sporty who can become torchbearers.

"I'm really excited about the fact that Lloyds TSB is recognising people who've made a difference to the disability community as well.

"This really is about rewarding your friends, family and neighbours and providing them with the experience of a lifetime."

He also went on to put forward his own nomination.

"I'm nominating Owen McGhee because he started a charity called the Association of Wheelchair Children with Kay Owen in the mid-80s," Adepitan said.

"Their aim was to empower children with disabilities in East London, by teaching them invaluable wheelchair and independent living skills.

"The charity changed my life when I was spotted by Owen and Kay being raced through the streets of Plaistow in a shopping trolley by my mates.

"He encouraged me and many other disabled kids to take up wheelchair sport and to become more independent.

"Owen McGhee has had a massive impact on the lives of thousands of disabled children in the east end and all over the UK.

"Even now at sixty years of age, he still plays an active part in the charity which is now called Go kids Go!

"Don't miss your opportunity to nominate."

People can nominate their community heroes until November 22 by clicking here.

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