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‘Grassroots support is vital’ if we want a Paralympic legacy
A £3,000 appeal for new equipment to help newly disabled people change their lives through sport will be unveiled at the end of the month.
The money will be used by the Stoke Mandeville-based WheelPower charity to improve its facilities.
The appeal will be made on October 30 by Mike Mackenzie, 63, who was chosen to carry the Paralympic torch.
He said: “One of the things the Paralympics has done is break down barriers and had an astonishing effect on people’s attitude towards disabled people.
“I think grassroots support for disabled sport is vital for future Paralympics.”
Mr Mackenzie, a former wine merchant, was treated at Stoke Mandeville after his accident which left him paralysed from the chest down, when he was 44.
Since then the father of three has undertaken numoerous fundraising activities for the centre and created several charities, including the Poppa Guttmann Trust to mark the life of Sir Ludwig Guttmann – the founding father of the Paralympic movement.
Mr Mackenzie, who plans to marry fiancee Sandy Johnston in March,said: “I think the big message is, if you want to do something, you should just get out and do it.
“The only limits in your life are those you accept yourself.”
> The appeal for funding will be made on October 30 at a meeting of Bicester Rotary Club.
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Monday 20 May 2013
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