Local man cycles 2,525 miles across the UK for disabled kids in aim to raise £15K

Dave Hann from Cardiff has embarked upon on an incredible 2,500 mile cycle around the UK, starting from Cardiff’s Millennium Centre last Saturday, in order to raise vital funds for disabled children’s charity, Whizz-Kidz.

Dave, who works as a technician in the department of Occupational Therapy for children in South Wales, has seen first-hand how Whizz-Kidz sets disabled children free by providing specialised equipment and life skills training, in order that they can lead fulfilling lives and reach their true potential. Dave’s epic challenge will take him to all corners of the British Isles on 2 and half week cycle in order to raise £15,000 for the charity.

Dave said, ‘I have been working with Whizz-Kidz for several years now. Whizz-Kidz do some fantastic work with children and young people in the UK and every year they come to Cardiff and deliver wheelchair skills training and camps to children from across Wales.

‘This year I am making this huge solo effort to raise funds and awareness of the work they do. I am relaying solely on the generosity of others to help me along the way with accommodation and food from the Warm Showers community and of course the public to help me with my fundraising efforts so please dig deep and spread the word.’

Regional Fundraising manager for Whizz-Kidz, Mike Walmsley, said ‘this challenge that Dave has designed himself and is taking on is truly momentous, both physically and in terms of fundraising.

‘He is aiming to raise £15,000, which would cover the cost of 3 specialist powered wheelchairs or 5 manual wheelchairs, the impacts of which on a young disabled person’s life is immeasurable.

‘We are incredibly grateful to Dave for all that he is doing for Whizz-Kidz as we wouldn’t be able to do the work we do without people like him.’

There are an estimated 70,000 disabled children in the UK waiting for a wheelchair that fits their young lives. Whizz-Kidz provides disabled children with the right wheelchair to support their own individual needs and enable them to live an active and independent childhood.

If you are inspired by Dave’s fundraising efforts then please donate to

Ends

For more information about Whizz-Kidz please contact Mike Walmsley, Regional Fundraising Manager, South Wales & South West, on 07788 435 149 or

Notes to editor

  • Whizz-Kidz has changed the lives of nearly 16,000 disabled children since 1990 – often literally overnight. The charity estimates there are still over 70,000 children in the UK waiting for the right equipment to fit their young lives.
  • The right wheelchair and mobility equipment is not automatically provided on the NHS. Whizz-Kidz aims to work where possible with local NHS Services, and aims to ensure that much-needed improvements are made in delivering wheelchair services for children in the UK.
  • Whizz-Kidz has 4 ambassador clubs in Wales; Bangor, Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham
  • Whizz-Kidz offers wheelchair skills training in Cardiff
  • Whizz-Kidz has an ambassador film club in Swansea
  • The Warm Showers Community is a free worldwide hospitality exchange for touring cyclists. People who are willing to host touring cyclists sign up and provide their contact information, and may occasionally have someone stay with them and share great stories and a drink.
  • Dave will be visiting a wheelchair skills training scheme that Whizz-Kidz runs along his route in Croydon on Friday August 8th.
  • embarking from Cardiff’s Millennium Centre on an.

Cardiff Case Study – also found here on our website

Ayesha

In the four years that Ayesha from Wales has been involved with Whizz-Kidz she has confronted bullies, become a Young Leader, campaigned to help other young disabled people and, as a result, her confidence and independence has grown significantly. In case that wasn't enough, she also finds time to play wheelchair tennis and basketball, which she is able to do thanks to her lightweight wheelchair from Whizz-Kidz.

Ayesha says:

'I received my Whizz-Kidz wheelchair and joined the Cardiff Ambassador Club in 2010 at a time when I was getting badly bullied at school. It was a really difficult time for me.

‘The lightweight manual wheelchair I received from Whizz-Kidz has really made a difference to my family and me. The chair is really light, which makes it nice and easy to manoeuvre and, because it is small, it is easy to travel around with. My old chair made my feel "stuck in the mud" but my Whizz-Kidz chair has enabled me to get stuck in. I never imagined I could play wheelchair tennis and basketball, but thanks to Whizz-Kidz I can. These sports are also very good to build up my upper body strength.

'I've made so many friends and have done lots of great things at the Cardiff Ambassador Club, it made me feel a lot happier. Every time I go to the club, I come away happy and smiling. If I'm worried about something I can talk to my friends, staff and volunteers, as well as my family – it is great to feel so well supported, especially when I used to feel alone.

'I am now the Young Leader of the Cardiff Ambassador Club. As Young Leader I have really enjoyed fundraising for Whizz-Kidz. I have taken part in the Big Welsh Walk for two years and launched a fundraising appeal at the home of Newport Gwent Dragons rugby team with fly half Jason Tovey.

'I also helped to represent Whizz-Kidz on TV for the ITV Text Santa appeal. It was so cool! I was really nervous but excited; lots of people saw me on TV and spoke to me in the street about it afterwards.

'Last year I joined the Kidz Board, where I am proud to represent Wales. The Kidz Board meets regularly at different locations across the UK, it is a great way to see the country and also hear about the experiences of other wheelchair users. We discuss a lot of issues together, help decide what direction the charity will take and campaign. Being on the Kidz Board has helped me to develop a lot of skills.

'I am now studying ICT and business at college, which I am really enjoying. I am feeling very happy about the future, and this is in part thanks to the impact that Whizz-Kidz has had on me.