VC helps so special bikes can broaden options for people with disabilities
Published on 24 March, 2011
The Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association has a dream of providing special hand cycles so people with disabilities, particularly those who rely on wheelchairs, can experience the delights of cycling, while exercising a different range of muscles.
The requirement for specialised engineering means each hand cycle costs around $4000 but that has not deterred supporters of the plan to obtain some for the Capricorn region.
Some funding towards the goal was raised last year during the inaugural Bike 4 Life event supported by CQUniversity, and this has been topped up to $2000 through other fundraising by the Sporting Wheelies.
Now, Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman has provided an extra $2000 in dollar-for-dollar assistance to help fund the first of the cycles for the Capricorn region, in the hope other community organisations will also get behind the initiative.
Wheelchair-bound Jason Holohan has experienced using a borrowed hand cycle and said many people with disabilities would benefit from the sport of cycling, as an alternative to wheelchair basketball.
Professor Bowman recently invited Michael Oxley, Regional Coordinator for the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association to accept the cheque. The Vice-Chancellor said CQUniversity is striving to be the most accessible and inclusive University in Australia and welcomed the opportunity to support this initiative.
Professor Scott Bowman discussed the hand cycle project with Jason Holohan and Michael Oxley, representing the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association
Mr Oxley confirmed this year's Bike 4 Life event will be held on Sunday, July 31, with CQUniversity's Rockhampton Campus as the host venue. The event will include a cross-section of events ranging from 1km to 100km in distance.
Planning for Bike for Life 2011 has already begun and it is hoped to attract an even bigger contingent than the 125 riders at last year's event.