Community / Firewalk challenge features in charity’s latest fundraising drive
LOCAL charity Ability Shetland is set to host a ‘firewalk’ next month as part of a range of fundraising activities.
Staff, trustees and guests will all take part in the event at the play park in Lerwick on Saturday 8 October.
Among the guests already confirmed to be walking over the hot coals are Fjara’s Jonathan Williamson and Shetland Fishermen’s Association officer Daniel Lawson. It is said to be the first firewalk hosted in Shetland.
Other fundraising events due to be held by the charity include a coffee morning, sponsored obstacle courses and a sponsored walk.
People can donate to the firewalk fundraiser here.
Meanwhile the national Parasport organisation is currently shining a light on Ability Shetland as its club of the month.
Ability Shetland’s sports development coordinator Charis Scott is integral to the charity, planning and running a host of activities and sports, from boccia to all-ability rugby and beyond.
“Ability Shetland is for anyone who feels like they want to come along and join in with our clubs, we are open to everyone, and it’s more about inclusion,” she said.
“We try to offer as much as possible, obviously being a small island it’s hard but we’re a very sporty and active island. The big thing for us is that we have some amazing volunteers and club leaders, without whom we wouldn’t be able to offer nearly as much, so it really highlights the community aspect of Shetland.”
Ritchie Pitt, an active member of Ability Shetland, has hired the all-terrain wheelchair on multiple occasions and is planning to take on the Ward of Bressay, a 227m hill on the island.
“The All-Terrain Wheelchair just opens up so many opportunities, things I wouldn’t usually be able to do and gives me the opportunity to actually do them,” he said.
“It takes a bit of hard work, usually upper body strength, I’m not going to say it’s easy to use, but it’s definitely good exercise. Shetland is such a beautiful place; the All-Terrain Wheelchair makes it a lot easier for me to experience it.
“After my accident, I thought I would never be able to see any of this again, but the wheelchair gives me the opportunity to experience it. It’s fulfilling, it makes you feel like you’ve achieved something.”
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