TWO organisations have combined forces to inspire children with disabilities from across the region to take part in Small Steps to Sport and are encouraging them to sign up for the event.

Great Britain Paralympic swimming medallist Matt Wylie will be offering support and advice to youngsters at the free multi-sports taster event staged by Chester-le-Street based children’s charity Heel and Toe, and Smile Through Sport CIC.

Heel and Toe, which supports children and young people with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities, is partnering Smile Through Sport CIC to stage the Small Steps to Sport event at Consett Leisure Centre on Saturday, July 14 from 10am. Stephen Miller, who through his company Smile Through Sport CIC has provided support for the event, said: “These types of free taster multi-sport events are a fantastic way to inspire, educate and engage with those individuals who may not have had the opportunity to try sport before.”

Among the sports on offer will be RaceRunning, a sport for those with balance impairment issues which relies on the use of a custom built learner tricycle, a number of which will be made available on the day. RaceRunning lends itself to those who live with cerebral palsy, and arthritis and is about to get its debut as an official event at the 2018 World Para Athletics European Championships in Berlin in August this year.

Heel and Toe event organiser Jane Long said: “We want to get the message out there that just because you have a disability doesn’t mean you have to be excluded from any type of sport.”

Matt will be poolside with the children giving support.