London 2012 Paralmypian Hunt praises impact of WheelPower as charity holds reception to celebrate supporters

WheelPower held a London reception to recognise the contribution of their backers ©WheelPower

Wheelchair tennis player Louise Hunt has praised the support of WheelPower at the charity’s London reception in helping her becoming one of Britain’s highest ranked players.

Hunt, who represented Britain at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, spoke to 40 of WheelPower’s trust donors, individual fundraisers and corporate supporters at the event to celebrate their contributions to the charity and explain the difference it had made to the lives of people with disabilities.

The 24-year-old first came into contact with WheelPower when she took part in their junior sport programme where the Briton first discovered her passion for wheelchair tennis, helping to launch a career which has seen her earn 54 titles to date.

Speaking after the reception, Hunt paid a tribute WheelPower’s chief executive Martin McElhatton, an International Tennis Foundation award winner for his contribution to wheelchair tennis, for his role in boosting her career.

“It was lovely to be a part of such a great evening and support WheelPower,” she said.

“I can’t even remember my life without Martin, he has always been and continues to be an exceptional role model and dear friend.

“Being introduced to so many sports at Stoke Mandeville gave me such a good perspective on what was possible, and the fantastic people who surround Wheelpower and the stadium really helped me eventually pursue the sport I loved the most and turn it into a successful career.”

Louise Hunt praised the contribution of WheelPower chief executive Martin McElhatton to her career ©WheelPower

The charity also revealed that they had been able to provide support for 45,000 disabled people in the United Kingdom throughout the year as a result of funding, with guests at the event, including long-term supporters Mace Foundation, Canary Wharf Contractors and The Wolfson Foundation.

McElhatton praised the generosity of the charity backers claiming almost £1 million ($1.5 million/€1.4 million) had been raised in past financial year for the benefit of disabled people and expressed his aim to get more disabled people participating in sport in 2016.

“We held our London Reception to introduce donors to our new projects and ideas for 2016 to get even more disabled people playing sport,” he said.

“It was a chance to thank them and inspire them through the story of Louise Hunt who WheelPower supported on her sporting journey.

“We would like to thank everyone who joined us at the reception as well as those who could not attend for their valuable support to WheelPower and helping achieve our mission of transforming lives through sport.”