The Relay Challenge, based on the former Paralympic sport wheelchair slalom, sees groups of students learn the basics of wheelchair sport before testing their skills in races around a challenging course of slalom poles and obstacles. 

It is open to primary, secondary and independent schools in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and other surrounding areas.

Baroness Tanni, one of the world’s most successful ever Paralympians with 11 gold medals, has called for schools across the region to take the opportunity to get involved in the Relay Challenge that started this summer.

"The WheelPower Relay Challenge is a fantastic way to give school children the opportunity to learn the basics of wheelchair sport and test their skills and speed on a challenging relay course using sports wheelchairs," she said. 

"Often disabled children will have to adapt to be included in their school PE lessons, but this project can show the other school children how to think more positively about wheelchair sport.

"The fun sessions delivered by WheelPower will also help increase awareness of disabilities in schools and students can start to understand the type of training involved to become a Paralympian.”

Participants are encouraged to raise £6 ($9/€8) in sponsorship each.

Funds raised will help WheelPower transform the lives of disabled people through various sporting activities at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement in Buckinghamshire, and around the country.

Last year 38,536 disabled people trained or took part in an event at Stoke Mandeville Stadium.

A further 5,851 disabled people from East London took part in the Paralympic legacy project Motive East, an annual pan-disability event series which targets young disabled people who have not taken part in any other organised sports programmes and often do not fit into mainstream physical education or sports provision.  

It includes the WheelPower-delivered "Time to Shine", which has been highly commended for providing outstanding social and life skills.

To find out more information, click here, or contact Ollie Moore via [email protected]


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