Paul Richardson from Luncarty, outside Perth, dropped into the Disability Sport Fife (DSF) office to hand over a cheque to the DSF President for £615. Paul works at Brand Rex, a well established Glenrothes company located near the DSF office at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre. Paul was inspired to raise funds for DSF by Fife wheelchair athlete Susanne McGrath’s father Eddie who also works at Brand Rex.
Paul has worked exceptionally hard to raise the money by competing in the West Highland Way Challenge at the end of May. The proud Welshman was competing in the Challenge for the third time with a target time of 30 hours for the 96 miles course. By offering assistance to others over the final stretch he took a little longer than he had hoped for but still finished in the excellent time of 34hours. All of us who have looked at the West Highland Way as a “thing to do before…” or have completed the project with overnight stays will be very impressed with this performance.
Runners and walkers compete in the Challenge by day and night under strict conditions. Check points are located every 12 miles or so and participants have to compete with all kinds of Scottish weather and of course the Scottish midge. For sections of the Challenge specific safety equipment has to be carried and participants have to be comfortable with a map in their hand or their challenges become even greater. Paul reckons that night time negotiation of the early part of the race around Mugdock can be particularly demanding.
The DSF President willingly accepted the cheque from Paul and thanked him for considering DSF worthy of such generous support and effort. It was mutually agreed that the donation will be used to purchase bowls equipment for the Association to help encourage learners to take up the sport. Early engagement and appropriate coaching on the short mat will hopefully encourage participants to consider the more challenging indoor and outdoor versions of the game. DSF already has a strong commitment to bowls and considers most bowling clubs in Fife fully committed to inclusive sport and very welcoming to disabled bowlers.
Paul will be in attendance at the 2017 Fife Carpet Bowls Championships, supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, on Wednesday 22nd November at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre. Paul has been invited by Disability Sport Fife to present medals and trophies to successful participants.
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife