A GROUP of cyclists passed through the city to visit the new Arena as they took on a mammoth challenge to raise cash to buy bikes for disabled children.
Councillor Pat Agar, the mayor of Worcester, and Professor David Green, vice chancellor of the University of Worcester, greeted fund-raisers from the Whizz-Kids charity when they stopped off in Worcester.
Rahul Moodgal, Denis Ball and Nick Goldup are on a 1,000-mile fund-raising ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
Mr Goldup, one of the charity’s directors, said they visited the Arena to highlight its accessibility.
“We all witnessed the phenomenal talent, skills and ambition of disabled people during the Paralympics and Whizz-Kidz wants to ensure the lasting legacy of the Games,” he said.
“That’s why we’re using our challenge to seek out fantastic sporting facilities like the Worcester Arena.”
The riders are looking to raise £250,000 to buy 200 disabled children’s specialist trikes to give them the independence and exercise that they need.
“We’re dubbing the challenge Bikes for Trikes. With the right mobility equipment young people can take part in sport and play with their friends and families,” said Mr Goldup.
“Some may even aspire to be Paralympians of the future like our patron and a former Whizz-Kid Hannah Cockroft.”
Coun Agar said: “It’s so good to see the spirit of the Paralympics being sustained in Worcester.
“The Arena is a magnificent new venue for our city and it’s a delight to be able to meet such intrepid fund-raisers as they pass through the Faithful city.”
In 2012, Whizz-Kidz supported 2,025 young people with the right powered and manual wheelchairs to fit their young lives. It estimates that there are more than 70,000 young people around Britain who are missing out on the chance of a childhood and a bright future.
To donate £5 to the Whizz-Kidz’s challenge, text KIDZ72 £5 to 70070 or visit its fund-raising page at justgiving.com/generationinspired.
Whizz-Kidz will be tweeting updates on the Land’s End to John O’Groats journey using the hashtag #BikesforTrikes.
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