A company’s charitable trust is enabling disabled adults and children to play an exciting form of football.
The government’s Manx Sport and Recreation (MSR) organisation has set up the island’s first powerchair football club and hosts taster sessions in the sport, which sees teams of four use powered wheelchairs fitted with bumpers to move a ball around an indoor court.
The Microgaming Health and Care Trust has already bought bumpers, footballs and coaching equipment. Now it has donated a further £1,500 for the purchase of a football powerchair.
Zoe Crowe, disability sports development officer with MSR, said: ‘Adults and children with a wide range of physical impairments, including quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, stroke and spinal cord injuries, can enjoy powerchair football.
‘This latest generous donation from the Microgaming Health and Care Trust will allow participants who don’t have access to their own powerchair to benefit from regular physical activity.’
The next taster sessions will be held at the National Sports Centre on Thursday August 27, and Thursday, September 3 (11am to 1pm).
The sessions are open to people of all abilities.