The Foundation, the development arm of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), is hoping to raise €25,000 (£21,000/$26,000) to fund an innovative cross-border project in Greece, Serbia and Cyprus.

Funds raised will go towards the project run by the Hellenic, Cyprus and Serbia National Paralympic Committees, with the aim to bring information and opportunities to refugees with impairments in those countries.

The project will provide information about Para-sport to agencies running the refugee camps, and will help to register those with impairments, especially children.

A further aim is to give refugees the chance to learn about the Paralympic Movement, organise a training camp and grow a network to ensure they have access to sport programmes and competitions. 

The Foundation is hoping to receive donations from around the world to support the effort.

The initiative is due to go live tomorrow (November 29), with the hope it will garner a similar response to when two refugee athletes competed in an Independent Paralympic Athletes’ (IPA) team at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Ibrahim Al-Hussein was one of the refugees to compete at the Games, with the Syrian having been injured in rocket attack in his home town of Deir al-Zour in 2013, before fleeing to Greece.

“2016 was definitely the best year of my life, but Rio was just the start,” he said.

“Since I returned from Rio my life has taken a 360 degree turn.

“It opened doors for me, eeryone should get involved in sports.

“They should go to sports clubs when they can.

“Nothing is too difficult and there is no disability, everything can be overcome.”

Any surplus funds raised will go towards supporting the IPA Team into 2017, including helping refugee athletes to compete at the World Para Swimming Championships and World Para Athletics Championships.

Donations can be made here.