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Getting the ball rolling for team

11 March 2008

Special chairs boost school’s sporting ambitions

Basketball stars at Newcastle Eagles better watch out. Pupils at Percy Hedley Academy for Disability Sports (PHADS) are taking to the sport thanks to 10 new wheelchairs.

The charity provides education and care for people with cerebral palsy and, thanks to the Sunshine Fund, is now able to start up its own wheelchair basketball team. And the Newcastle Eagles have shown their support by paying a visit to the school.

Eagles chief Paul Blake, said: “I’m aware that the equipment is to be used to support junior sporting activities at the school, including wheelchair basketball , which is great news for our sport. “We look forward to seeing all of the new participants as special guests at one of our up and coming games at the Arena.”
PHADS realised the popularity and benefit of wheelchair basketball through a series of taster sessions, which were held once a month.

At least 15 young people turned up to the taster groups, but wheelchairs had to be borrowed from the adult wheelchair team, which was unsuitable and could damage the chairs. The charity applied for a grant from the Sunshine Fund to buy 10 manual wheelchairs in the hope of building a proper team and holding regular training and coaching.

The team caters for youngsters from 11 to 19 and is part of PHADS’ outreach sessions. Des Bustard, director of fundraising at PHADS, said: “It’s absolutely fabulous that the Sunshine Fund is supporting this – it wouldn’t be possible otherwise. “It will help a lot more disabled youngsters become active and be able to take part in a competitive sport. We needed the new chairs because a lot of the youngsters here have their own chairs, and they’re not suitable for sport.
“With the Eagles promoting wheelchair basketball , it will encourage a lot more youngsters to get involved and it will promote the idea that wheelchair basketball is a recognisable like normal basketball .

Our next step is to develop the team into a regular training and coaching programme. “The Eagles visit will encourage this programme and get more people involved.” PHADS was opened in 2005 as part of Percy Hedley Foundation, which caters for disabled children and adults, and offers sporting activities to its pupils.

The Percy Hedley Foundation, established in 1953, is spread across sites in Forest Hall and Killingworth in North Tyneside and Jesmond in Newcastle.
Sunshine Fund manager Jo Harris said: “The grant will give young people with cerebral palsy the chance to be active and engage in a team sport.
“This not only greatly benefits the youngsters themselves, but also their family and friends.”

If you would like raise money for the Sunshine Fund or apply for grant, call Jo Harris on (0191) 201 6289.


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