Doug's new Sports chair
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Introduction
I've been teaching IT voluntarily in a school in Wetherby for 18 months or so now.
In summer 2002 the teacher I worked with (Joan) retired early due to ill health. That summer, she challenged me to join her in training for a half marathon! She has lupus and didn't want to lose condition, I am much the same and we both had time on our hands. We decided to do a sponsored half marathon in aid of a charity called Disability Sport England.
Since then we have been training twice a week, round Roundhey Park in Leeds - you may have spotted us, along with Joan's dog, Bilbo! We're planning on doing the York half marathon in January 2004. (We originally planned on doing the Leeds half marathon but it is up and down a huge hill.)
Shortly after starting training my Dad had a great idea. He suggested that I fundraised for a purpose built sports wheelchair to help me achieve the Marathon.
At first I thought it was an insurmountable target but he then wrote to Mazda who started the ball rolling with a donation for £600.
Oldham
My dad also got in touch with the Oldham Evening Chronicle who donated some money and printed the following article in the paper:
This prompted various other companies, organisations and individuals in Oldham who remembered me to donate money, including Greenacres Congregational Church and Seton.
Wetherby News
Following the success of the article in the Oldham Chronicle, I asked reporters at the Wetherby News if they could also do an article. They produced a corker, on the front page with a brilliant photo of me in my old chair:
Wetherby People
The wonderful people of Wetherby swung into action, with imagination and commitment. I have been so amazed and heartened by how people have helped with this. I don't know how on Earth to begin to thank all those that have helped.
I think that Wetherby Methodist Church got the ball rolling. The Banner group led by Betty Wilson raised £200 by creating a fantastic banner. People in the church paid for a person, building etc. to be sewn on to the banner. A fantastic thankyou to Betty, the banner group and the rest of the Church.
The Wetherby Buffaloes (A1 lodge) very kindly helped me out with £100 towards my wheelchair.
The kids and staff at Wetherby St James C of E Primary raised the final £400 that took me to the target of my wheelchair, through doing a sponsored competition to see how many different (small!) items they could get into a film canister.
Again I am heavily indebted to the staff, kids, and all who sponsored them. I am really touched.
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| Myself at a St James assemby | Kids at St James who helped me reach the target. | Mr Walsh, headmaster of St James School, presenting me with the cheque. |
Wetherby News did a really nice article about the help that the kids at St James' gave me.
So many people and organisations have helped me out with fundraising for this wheelchair it is amazing. If I've forgotten any of you please do forgive me and contact me and I'll put you on the list. But the following organisations have helped me out:
- Barclays bank, Wetherby branch
- Skipton building society
- Wetherby Methodist Church Womens Group
- Individuals from the Wetherby Methodist fellowhship groups
- Wetherby Film Theatre
And countless other individual people, whose generosity is amazing.
New Wheelchair arrives!
Today (14th July 2003) the new wheelchair has arrived. It was custom built by RGK Wheelchairs. And what a stonker it is! It has front fork suspension, it's made out of titanium (ultra lightweight and strong), made to measure for me (6'7" and 20 stone!) and it even has a detachable extra wheel!
I took it to Roundhey Park for a trial spin. Here are the photos.
So what's next?
Well, I've got no excuse not to do this half marathon now, so I'd better get on with it! Wish me luck!
More news when I have any...
Yet again, many thanks to the many people who have given so generously of their time and money to help me to achieve this.