The Bruce Trust charity is dispatching one of its four boats for the task which is called the Diana and named in memory of the late Princess of Wales.

The Diana (pictured top and below) will depart from its base in on August 18 and arrive at the newly formed Canal and River Trust opposite the Olympic Stadium on August 28, the day before the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony.

The boat will be docking at the Canal and River Trust because it is the nearest canal location to the Olympic Stadium while Bruce Trust volunteers will man the boat throughout the Games.

A wide range of charities for disabled people have been invited to apply for low cost accommodation and free Paralympics entry tickets with charges set at £25 ($39/€31.5) per night per person.

The boat can accommodate up 10 people per night, including carers.

"This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only see the Paralympics but also to stay on one of our special boats in a unique location," said Trust founder David Bruce.


"The Diana is fully equipped and accessible for disabled visitors and we are only a few minutes' wheelchair ride away from the main Olympic Stadium."

During the canal section of the journey in Reading, local Rotary Club members are helping to crew the Diana as well as organise free day trips for disabled people on both outward and return journeys.

This will enable up to 12 disabled people and their carers to enjoy a canal ride on each day of the trip to and from the Paralympics.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for many other disabled people to experience a day of free canal cruising," added Bruce.

"We have to get the boat to Stratford and back so we thought it best to maximise the journey and provide extra day trips too."

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