Beneficiaries

Special chairs boost school’s sporting ambitions

The Sunshine Fund and local company ITPS, have got the ball rolling for Percy Hedley’s basketball team.

Basketball stars at Newcastle Eagles better watch out. Pupils at Percy Hedley Academy for Disability Sports (PHADS) are taking to the sport thanks to ten new wheelchairs from the Sunshine Fund.

Percy Hedley recently realised the popularity and benefit of wheelchair basketball when they held a series of taster sessions. A group of youngsters were keen to start a team, but they couldn’t borrow suitable wheelchairs.
After applying to the Sunshine Fund, and receiving their chairs they have managed to build a proper basketball team, hold regular training sessions and soon hope to compete against other teams.
ITPS, a local company who provide IT solutions for business, are loyal supporters of the Sunshine Fund, and also support the Newcastle Eagles Basketball team.
They kindly arranged for some of the Newcastle Eagles stars to pay the Percy Hedley basketball team a visit at their school.
After seeing their new chairs, and trading top training tips with the team, the Newcastle Eagles also gave the children VIP ringside seats so that they could enjoy watching them in action at the Newcastle Arena in March.
Des Bustard, Director of Fundraising at Percy Hedley told us, “The support that we receive from the Sunshine Fund is absolutely fabulous”
“The chairs will help a lot more disabled youngsters become active and be able to take part in a competitive sport.
“The Eagles visit really helped to encourage the team. Hopefully more people will get involved in the sport.”


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