News: Disabled cycling charity in BBC Finals

Disabled cycling charity Wheels for Wellbeing lines up for the Finals of BBC ONE’s 2012 National Lottery Awards.

Press Release

One of the UK’s leading charities to provide cycling for the disabled has raced through to the finals of this years prestigious National Lottery Awards. Nominated within the Best Sports Project category – Wheels for Wellbeing helps people with disabilities in London to experience the freedom of cycling using a wide variety of specially designed bikes. As the only cycling project to reach the finals, the charity now needs your vote to help them take the top prize at the star-studded award ceremony to be broadcast on BBC ONE this autumn.

In the wake of Team GB’s inspiring performance in cycling and Paralympic cycling at the London 2012 Games, it’s now more important than ever to provide the opportunity for disabled people to try the sport for the first time. Since it was established in 2007, Wheels for Wellbeing has been active in removing barriers to cycling for disabled people of all ages, and is continuing to work hard to ensure they experience the independence which cycling brings, whilst building confidence as well as fitness levels.

The Manager of Wheels for Wellbeing, Isabelle Clement, said: “We are thrilled that our work has been recognised by those who have voted for us to reach the final of the National Lottery Awards. Straight after the Paralympics it is crucial that people realise that there are opportunities for them to practice sports of all sorts, and that they don’t have to be aiming for Rio2016 to enjoy discovering physical activity. Wheels for Wellbeing works to ensure disabled cyclists are recognised as full members of the cycling community. One in ten regular cyclists are disabled in some way or suffer a long-term illness: so for us to win this award would help raise awareness and be an important boost to our on-going campaign to provide better cycling facilities for all.”

The National Lottery Awards are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects. Over 83,000 people voted in the semi-finals of the National Lottery Awards 2012, whittling 70 projects down to just 21 finalists across seven categories. As the only Sports category finalist that exclusively supports disabled people, Wheels for Wellbeing once again needs as many votes as possible to win. Show your support by clicking here now http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/project/wheels-wellbeing or by calling 08448 369 729. Voting closes at midnight on 28 October 2012.