On Sunday 3rd September, we had the privilege of attending the first stage of the Tour of Britain race. Little did we know how inspiring this day would turn out to be!
We were given the incredible opportunity to spend 30 minutes on Wheels for All accessible bikes and enjoy riding across the finish line.
Our day took an exciting turn, when we had the honour of meeting Dame Sarah Storey, a Paralympic legend. It was honour to be on the same track and share with Sarah the support Aspire offers to the people of Salford. Sarah Storey is an inspiration and reminded us that anything can be achieved with determination and passion!
Jodie, a lady we support said “I can’t believe we had the chance to meet a Paralympic champion. Sarah is so cool and kind. I was buzzing that we rode the bikes across the finish line and met Sarah.”
What makes this experience even more exciting, is that Wheels for All recently secured funding from Transport for Greater Manchester to provide accessible bikes for the people we support at Aspire.
Wheels for All is a national accessible cycling charity which promotes inclusive cycling through a range of successful community engagement programmes that give people the opportunity to cycle on a regular basis; through help, support and guidance.
Heather Yates, our Activity and Volunteer Lead, – “The programme will encourage the people we support to be able to spend time outdoors in the fresh air whilst keeping fit and meeting new people, improving their mental and physical health, and increasing community engagement. It will inspire them to get on a bike and pedal, even taking this up in their own time as a hobby or using a bike to travel, and really will help to change lives.”
In the weeks to come, we are excited to organise various cycling activities at our community hubs and explore Salford’s cycling tracks. Our dedicated staff team will be completing training to learn how to use the bikes and ensure the people we support feel confident and comfortable, whether they choose to ride independently or with additional support.
Eammon, a lifestyle coach from Beyond Empower will incorporate these bikes into his 8-week activity programmes, encouraging the people we support to ride the bikes in our community hubs and explore various cycling routes around Salford.
Our day at the Tour of Britain was a wonderful and inspiring event! It was also a reminder that with the support of charities like Wheels for All and initiatives like the Bike Buddy Programme, we can make anything possible and create an inclusive world!
