LAS VEGAS -- A paraplegic is breaking a record to help charities for physically challenged athletes and disabled sports programs.

Ryan Nichols is riding a hand cycle from Utah to California.

The 800-mile trek will benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation and the Goodwill Fitness Center of Orange County.

On Monday, he was in the Valley and met former UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture.

Nichols said he was inspired by a motivational speaker he met when he was injured in 1993.

"Maybe someone's watching this who is going through something challenging, whether it's physical or emotional, and can see the same way that art impacted me. Or maybe a little bit of that can rub off on them as well," Nichols said.

Art Berg set a record by pushing his race chair 325 miles back in 1993. He died in 2002.