Care and Mobility Show to Encourage Sports Involvement Among Ireland’s Disabled

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Provision 020215 Repro free Care and Mobility Show to Encourage Sports Involvement Among Ireland's Disabled Sports Arena to Showcase Sporting Prowess of Ireland's Top Athletes Pictured are members of Rebel Wheelers at the Cope Foundation Sports Centre, Cork. Ireland's second annual Care and Mobility Show which will take place in the RDS on 22nd and 23rd April was launched today by Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older people, Kathleen Lynch and members of Rebel Wheelers. This year's chosen charity, Rebel Wheelers is an all inclusive sports club for children and young adults with physical disabilities in Cork. The show, which provides a positive platform for independent living for the almost 600,000 people in Ireland with a disability (13% of total population) will showcase more than a thousand products and services which allow users to enjoy life to the fullest. A key element of this year's event will be the inclusion of a special sports arena which will play host to sports such as wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and tennis. Members of Rebel Wheelers will also showcase their sporting prowess in a number of exhibition games. Pic Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

Members of Rebel Wheelers will also showcase their sporting prowess in a number of exhibition games.
Pic Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

  Ireland's second annual Care and Mobility Show which will take place in the RDS on 22nd and 23rd April was launched recently by Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older people, Kathleen Lynch and members of Rebel Wheelers. This year's chosen charity, Rebel Wheelers is an all inclusive sports club for children and young adults with physical disabilities in Cork. The show, which provides a positive platform for independent living for the almost 600,000 people in Ireland with a disability (13% of total population) will showcase more than a thousand products and services which allow users to enjoy life to the fullest. A key element of this year's event will be the inclusion of a special sports arena which will play host to sports such as wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and tennis. Members of Rebel Wheelers will also showcase their sporting prowess in a number of exhibition games. The Rebel Wheelers, as seen on the RTE TV show The Secret Millionaire, was established in 2008 to facilitate children with disabilities who were eager to participate in all type of sports. Today the club has more than 50 members from the age of five. Some of the children have experienced exclusion because of their disability, so the core ethos of the club is to promote inclusion, self-esteem, fun and team work while reaping the health benefits of participation in sport. The event will also host two conferences for Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists and for health nurses working in the community or care settings. An intensive certified professional training course for clinical professionals will also cover topics including sleep systems, wheelchair seating and postural positioning. Speaking of the event, Adam Lingard organiser and director of MedCare Events said, "We are delighted to return to the RDS for the second year of the Care and Mobility Show. This year's show is about promoting independent living and fitness for those with any type of disability. The addition of our sports arena will showcase the wealth of sporting talent that exists in Ireland as well as giving those who want to take up a sport the opportunity to experience it for themselves first hand. It has been proven that partaking in sport boosts self confidence and sociability and one of the main aims of the show this year is to show that there is a sport or social outlet there for everyone regardless of age or disability. We look forward to welcoming thousands of people to the RDS during the show while also raising money for our chosen charity Rebel Wheelers who provide an inclusive sports club for children and young adults with physical disabilities in Cork." Also speaking at the launch, Minister Kathleen Lynch said, "The Care and Mobility Show is about proving that living with disability does not and should not mean living a less fulfilled life. Disability does not have a target age group and the show will exhibit the broad range of products, services and facilities that are available to both young and old.  Too often we associate needing help with a weakness when in fact it is through getting help that people can actually become more independent." Lucia Ryan, Chairperson, Rebel Wheelers said, "Too often when people think of disability they think of barriers but this show will prove that living with a disability does not mean you can't live a very full life. It will prove that in many cases there are solutions available in terms of advice, clubs, products and services. Members of our club are proof that you can live a very active life and playing sports is of enormous benefit to both mental and physical health.  Life should be lived to the full and the Care and Mobility Show will show people how this can be done." Tickets for the show are available at careandmobility.ie for €5 with €1 from the sale of each ticket going to Rebel Wheelers.  

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Christine is a PR consultant and owner of DMpr. She has worked with some of the largest national and multi-national companies and her PR work has been recognised and nationally awarded.

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