Easy Riders Wheelchairs celebrates its 21st birthday

Written by Rachel Bowden 18th September 2009

The Easy Riders Wheelchair Programme celebrated its 21st anniversary at the Aspire National Training Centre on Sunday 13th September 2009 with a party and an afternoon of wheelchair sport.

Ade Adepitan MBE with the children of Aspire

More than 180 guests celebrated with Ade Adepitan MBE and the Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Eric Silver who joined Pamela Sinclair, Chair of the Easy Riders Wheelchair Committee and Chief Barker Kenneth Mustoe to enjoy demonstrations of wheelchair football from Aspire Powerchair FC and Nottinghamshire Powerchair FC. Matt Harrold, Wycombe Wanderers' centre forward started the games and lent his support to the afternoon.

Aspire Force, Hampshire Hornets and Junior Aces gave an exciting and competitive display of wheelchair basketball.

The Aspire National Training Centre is home to one of the UK's leading spinal injury charities, Aspire. Wheelchairs provided by the Easy Riders Wheelchair Programme benefit players at Aspire, many of whom attended the afternoon with their families and friends to see three new sports wheelchairs presented to Aspire Force basketball team by Rebecca and Hannah Tunstall who swam The Channel in aid of the Programme. Rebecca and Hannah's achievement was also honoured during the afternoon.

Dillon Parmar, a 13 year-old member of Aspire Powerchair FC and pupil of Whitmore High School, Harrow was presented with a new Storm 3 FfH Football Powerchair as nearly 90% of its cost had been funded by the Easy Riders Wheelchair Programme, his family and friends raising the rest.

The work which the Variety Club does through its Easy Riders Wheelchair Programme is invaluable. Aspire enjoys a great relationship with the Variety Club as we witness first hand the fantastic results of the kids who benefit from receiving the wheelchairs. The Variety Club is encouraging disabled children and their families to apply to the Easy Riders Wheelchair Programme

Tasha Dyson, Aspire's Head of Operations

The afternoon was made possible by sponsorship from De Vere Hunton Park and Jean and Marsha Rae Ratcliff and support from volunteers including Havering Volunteer Police Cadets and the DWP. Donations from Walkers Snack Foods Limited, The Co-operative Group, Media Powerhouse Ltd., One Water, Jake's Tree Pure Apple Juice and Hush Heath Estate amongst many others were gratefully received.