Wirral school launches charity for specialist sports wheelchairs

Jan 30 2013 by Linda Foo Guest, Wallasey News

A WIRRAL school has launched a charity initiative to raise money for specialist sports wheelchairs.

The Mosslands School has set up Mosslands Embrace Charity to enable them to purchase six Quick Hit Sports wheelchairs and help increase awareness of disability sports across the borough.

The school in Wallasey has a number of pupils with varying disabilities and wants to enhance its disability sports facilities.

Learning resource assistant Tom Keggin is leading the ‘sports for all’ charity initiative with colleague Lesley Cubbin.

He said: “We are an inclusive school and felt that we wanted to offer more sports to our special education needs pupils. We already have assistants in PE lessons who help the boys to take part but knew we could do more, not just improving facilities but days out and sports trips.

“Last term a group of pupils enjoyed a trip to The Oval Leisure Centre in Bebington for a Paralympics Day with other schools from the north west doing sports such as boccia, wheelchair basketball and new age kurling.

“After this we decided to launch the charity to get more suitable sports wheelchairs for students.

“Sports wheelchairs cost £500 each and are much lighter, faster and more mobile than standard electric wheelchairs. They will really enhance our disabled pupils’ experience and participation in PE and extra-curricular sports.

“All pupils and staff have got behind the campaign and we have already had fundraising cake sales, non-uniform days and art auctions. Once we have raised the money for the new wheelchairs we want to keep on fundraising to get more sports equipment for disabled users.”

The charity has secured part-funding from the Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust and is now working hard to match this. Wallasey Rotary Club are helping organise another Paralympics Day for Wirral schools.