Push to support disabled athletes

Disabled athletes such as Matthew Lack, who studies in Tauranga and holds International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation under-20 world records for 800m, 1500m and 5000m along with a host of other titles, will benefit from a revitalisation of ParaFed Bay of Plenty.

Matthew Lack. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

Matthew is hoping to qualify for the 2012 Paralympics and is currently training with a ParaFed Auckland coach. ParaFed Bay of Plenty’s Neil Cudby says improvements in Parafed’s services could mean Matthew and others would have more support in the Bay.

ParaFed Bay of Plenty, the organisation that supports athletes with physical disabilities, is calling for public input on sport and recreation activities for the disabled community.
The Bay of Plenty branch has been in recess for more than a decade but is now undergoing a review of how it delivers activities to the disabled community. SPARC, Paralympics NZ and Sport Bay of Plenty are all assisting with the review.
Paralympics New Zealand’s project manager Dave Stewart says ParaFed BOP plays an integral part in the pathway for athletes with a disability, from participation to high performance sport.
“Whether it is through holding quality events, running successful programmes, or providing links to other organisations, ParaFed Bay of Plenty has an important role in the community,” says Dave.
“I am very pleased to see the revitalising changes they have undertaken and I look forward to soon seeing the organisation as a role model for other regions around the country.”
Parafed BOP working party chairman Neil Cudby says as part of the review a survey has been created to look at what people are currently doing and what is needed.
“This vital information will provide us with a skeleton platform for the working party to put on the meat and really give our organisation life and real grunt.”
Anyone who is involved in sport and recreation in the disability sector; participants, administrators, coaches and parents, should complete the survey.
To see the survey, or find out more about Parafed, visit www.parafedbop.co.nz