Rare award and praise for Martin’s dedication to sport

Wheelpower's chief executive Martin McElhatton recives the Master Wheelwrights award - pictured with him his Roger Jefcoate, also with the same award PNL-150807-160355009

An award reserved only for the most deserving recipients has been given to a charity’s chief executive.

Martin McElhatton has been recognised for his pioneering wheelchair sports work with charity Wheelpower, by being awarded the Master Wheelwrights Award.

The award is in recognition of Mr McElhatton’s 30 years service with the charity.

Mr McElhatton, who himself uses a wheelchair, said: “I am hugely honoured by this recognition for my lifetime of work in wheelchair sport. Wheelpower is a great charity to work for and I look forward to working with our team and partners to keep Stoke Mandeville Stadium at the forefront of wheelchair sport nationally and internationally, as well as continuing to provide life changing opportunities for disabled people.”

After suffering a spinal cord injury in 1979, Martin began playing wheelchair sport at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. In 1984 he was selected for the Great Britain wheelchair basketball squad in the Paralympic Games.

Patron Roger Jefcoate, who also won a Wheelwright’s Award in 2009, said: “Martin is truly deserving of this prestigious award. He has played a significant part in lifting the worldwide profile of wheelchair sport.”