GBWR and Gloucester Titans Wheelchair Rugby are delighted to be attending Gloucester Rugby on Saturday as they look to maintain their winning run against London Irish.
It was back in 2014 that the Gloucester Wheelchair Rugby Club was officially launched in partnership with GBWR, Gloucester Rugby and Gloucester University. Much has happened since and the team now compete in Division Two of the BT Super Series. Club Chairman Dave Durston was one of the first to go through the new accredited 1st4 Sport coaching qualification and former Leicester Tigers Wheelchair Rugby player James Price has recently joined him, so the future looks bright. The club is also looking to develop a youth team to ensure wheelchair rugby opportunities are available for all ages.
The Great Britain team has had a challenging year since losing its UK Sport funding. The main focus off the court has been to gain new sponsors and new fundraising opportunities to get the necessary £500,000 a year to get the team ready to take on the best at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2020. David Pond, CEO GBWR, commented, “Yes, it is not easy to raise that sort of money but compared with the challenges my athletes have faced, whether it be learning to walk after losing legs in Afghanistan or dealing with paralysis after breaking a neck after a bad rugby tackle, I reckon we ought to be able to do it. We are certainly getting some fantastic support from the wider rugby family. The fundraising opportunity this weekend is no exception and we are all hugely grateful to the club and the cherry and white supporters.”
All funds raised at the match will be split equally between the GB team and Gloucester Wheelchair Rugby. Every pound will make a huge difference.
To find out more please visit gbwr.org.uk or email lucy.jones@gbwr.org.uk.
