Article courtesy of ParaQuad NSW
7 November 2010
The Chairman of ParaQuad NSW, Wendy Potter, today encouraged people to learn more about people with a spinal cord injury.
Spinal Injuries Awareness Week begins today, and ParaQuad NSW has a range of events to mark the occasion.
Activities this week include an exhibition wheelchair rugby match in Martin Place as part of ‘Wheels for a Day’, a driver safety awareness campaign titled ‘The thrill lasts for seconds, the chair lasts a lifetime’ aimed at promoting safe driving to school students across the state, and a hand cycle race along the beach promenade in Newcastle featuring local community leaders including Lord Mayor John Tate.
Ms. Potter said the key messages for Spinal Injuries Awareness Week are accessibility, employment and driver safety, with events coordinated by ParaQuad NSW aimed at highlighting the challenges faced by wheelchair users, while celebrating the achievements of people with a spinal cord injury.
The key messages for Spinal Injuries Awareness Week will be on display today in Martin Place with the annual ‘Wheels for a Day’ wheelchair challenge. Senior executives from Allianz Australia, NRMA Insurance, Stacks / Goudkamp and Walker Legal will take part in a wheelchair basketball shoot out, before the Men of League Legends trade in their footy boots for wheels as they battle against the five time national wheelchair rugby champion NSW Gladiators.
“One of the main barriers that prevent wheelchair users from social inclusion is accessibility. Through Spinal Injuries Awareness Week and Wheels for a Day, ParaQuad NSW can educate the community that equal access is not a frill, but a basic human right, which encourages higher rates of social participation from members of our community.” Ms. Potter said.
“More than one person each day throughout Australia will sustain a permanent spinal cord injury each year.”
“ParaQuad NSW is committed to providing a range of community services to support people with a spinal cord injury to achieve their choices in life.”
For more information on Spinal Injuries Awareness Week and Wheels for a Day visit: www.paraquad.org.au or www.wheelsforaday.com.au