WheelPower hosts its first Sports Festival of 2022
On Thursday 10 March, over 40 disabled people aged from 6 to 60 attended an all-day wheelchair sports event at the Colchester Sports Park in Essex. The festival, organised by WheelPower, provided everyone who took part the opportunity to try a variety of sports including Boccia, Tennis, Volleyball, Cricket and Table Tennis.
The festival was WheelPower’s first in-person event since 2019 and the first time the charity has delivered an event for the people of Essex, meaning the excitement from everyone involved was clear to see. The sports festival was supported by the Rotary Club of Colchester and by local clubs, organisations and coaches who delivered a series of activities for all of the physically disabled children and adults who took part.
One of the young disabled people who took part in the festival was 10 year old Dillon from Ipswich, who said:
“Playing sports makes me feel happy and it helps get rid of all the anxiety built up inside of me. The WheelPower Sports Festival has been great for trying new sports and finding out stuff you’ve never done before. I never knew I was good at table tennis before coming today and I really liked it. I’m going to find some sessions near me now.”
Trevor Sayer from the Rotary Club of Colchester told us:
“We were delighted to finally bring the WheelPower Sports Festival to Colchester and it was a great success by all accounts. You see the participants arriving and lacking in confidence, not sure what the day will bring but once they start getting involved with the coaches it all changes. They come away full of excitement, with improved self-confidence and really relish playing sport again. I am always a big promoter of sport for disabled people and opportunities like this are a fantastic enabler to ensure they have a great life, which is what they all deserve.”
Emily Weller, Head of Sport, WheelPower, said:
“The WheelPower Festivals are for many the first time trying a particular sport and it is our hope that these days inspire disabled people to lead healthier and more active lives when they return home. Sport has so many physical, social and wellbeing benefits and the smiles we saw in Colchester say it all. We are so thankful of support of the local community, clubs, coaches, families and volunteers from the Rotary Club of Colchester who all for contributed to a fantastic event in Essex.”
