The five new specialist wheelchairs have been purchased thanks to donations from the Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust and Jonathan Thomas Memorial Fund.
The Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby team have been presented withfive new specialist youth chairs, making the sport accessible to all, thanks to kind donations from the Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust and the Jonathan Thomas Memorial Fund.
The chairs were presented to Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby at training last week and will now allow the team to let more children take part in the sport without having to purchase their own chairs, which cost upwards of three thousand pounds.
John Voss, Chairman of the Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby Youth team, remarked on the donation,
“It’s absolutely fantastic to have these special rugby wheelchairs purchased for the team. It means that all young people are able to come along, try out the sport and get involved without having to have their own chairs. There are now enough wheelchairs to go around everyone and it’s fantastic to see the young members of the team all able to get out on the court together and give them a try.
“The organisation are very grateful to the Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust and the Jonathan Thomas Memorial Fund for providing the donations to allow the pool of chairs to be purchased.”
The Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust was set up in 1999 and receives a levy on all tickets purchased for Principality Stadium events. MSCT has since supported 1040 individual projects covering sport, the arts, the community and the environment since it was set up and recently gave it’s 5th million pound away, with Ospreys in the Community the recipient of the grant that broke through the landmark. The donation they received supporting the Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby Juniors and Youth Project, allowing them to buy the rugby specific wheelchairs.
The Jonathan Thomas Memorial Fund was set up in memory of Jonny Thomas who sadly lost his life in November 2015. Jonny, a former rugby player, was well known throughout the rugby community and his mum Julie Thomas and brother Nicky were at the training session to present the chair purchased from money raised in Jonny’s name. Julie commented:
“We’re delighted to be here today to help present the Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby team with their new chairs. Rugby was a huge part of Jonny’s life and it’s a lovely and fitting tribute to him to know that more young people will now be able to try out and get involved in the sport. We have to thank Jonny’s friends for their hard work and all the kind donations that have been given in his name that have allowed us to help the team”.
Anyone looking for more information on trying out wheelchair rugby or joining the team can contact them on ospreys.wheelchair.rugby@gmail.com.