Adults with a disability in County Durham have gone the extra mile – literally – for Sport Relief.
Twenty-five people who use Durham County Council’s Care and Support Pathways service took on a one mile course at Spennymoor Leisure Centre on Friday for the charity event, which brings together the worlds of sport and entertainment to raise money to help vulnerable people in both the UK and the world’s poorest countries.
Users of the service’s sites at Newton Aycliffe, Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street, Durham, Peterlee, Spennymoor and Stanley negotiated a course marked by cones in the centre’s sports hall.
Games of archery, boccia, new aged kurling, circus skills and target throwing were also laid on for participants.
The charity event was organised and funded by Durham University’s sport development and inclusion officer Deborah Cairns and the county council’s Graham Willis, senior care support for the Pathways service.
It was part of the Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds (HBHM) project, funded by the council, university and Sport England, which offers sports, dance and physical activities for adults with learning disabilities, mental health and autistic spectrum disorders.
Deborah said: “Sport Relief is a great cause and one Durham County Council and Durham University are only too happy to support.
“Our event was a great way for users of the Care and Support Pathways service to enjoy themselves while also getting some exercise and raising money for a worthy charity.”
The service is to organise further events for Sport Relief throughout 2016, including new aged kurling, boccia and ten pin bowling tournaments.
Care and Support Pathways provides a specialist day service for adults with disabilities who live in County Durham.
The HBHM project, now in its second year, offers activities including rowing, fencing, athletics, pilates and Barre Concept, the new fitness phenomenon endorsed by celebrities.
Sport Relief is a biennial charity event from Comic Relief, in association with the BBC.