Wheelchair for Powerchair Football
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Chris Jacquin, captain and a founding member of Lothian Wolves Powerchair Football Club!
Football has been a big part of my life and since I was a young boy I have always had a massive passion for the beautiful game! However, due to my disability, cerebral palsy, which means I'm in a wheelchair, I never had the opportunity to play and compete in my favourite sport.
Even though I always wondered if I could play football in a wheelchair, it was only 7 years ago that my dream had come true when I was made aware of the sport. My vision came to a halt when I quickly realised that there were no teams in Scotland. A few years later I tried to set up a new team in Edinburgh with some friends however, we had no resources or finances to get the club of the ground.
In December 2016 my dreams were reignited when Lothian Disability Sport announced they were setting up a powerchair football team, I knew I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by. Being one of the first club members to join, I also helped with setting up the club.
Despite getting this far and waiting so long ,my dreams have been put on hold again, after realising my standard wheelchair cannot cope with the fast paced nature of the sport. My current wheelchair is only designed for everyday use, using it for the sport causes it to overheat and puts it at risk of getting severely damaged (Having a major effect on my daily life and prevents me from participating in the club's activities).
The Scottish Powerchair Football Association have advised that I need a chair that is specifically designed for this sport (Strikeforce). The difference with this chair is it has a cooling system built into the motors to prevent them from overheating, giving me confidence that I can participate without the worry of causing damage to my only form of mobility. Secondly, the chair will be able to meet the speed requirements set by the SPFA and other global governing bodies (FIPFA) enabling me to compete to the standard level.
Unfortunately, with most specialised equipment comes a large price tag and since my club has few sponsors or fundraisers I have been left with no choice but to attempt to raise the amount myself (£6750). I will contribute as much money as I can from savings, however I know I simply cannot afford the full amount due to being in receipt of disability benefits.
If I were to raise the funds for the chair it would play a significant role in my development in the sport. Having the chair would give me the platform to pursue my life long dream of representing Scotland and help them qualify for the FIPFA World Cup!
Football has been a big part of my life and since I was a young boy I have always had a massive passion for the beautiful game! However, due to my disability, cerebral palsy, which means I'm in a wheelchair, I never had the opportunity to play and compete in my favourite sport.
Even though I always wondered if I could play football in a wheelchair, it was only 7 years ago that my dream had come true when I was made aware of the sport. My vision came to a halt when I quickly realised that there were no teams in Scotland. A few years later I tried to set up a new team in Edinburgh with some friends however, we had no resources or finances to get the club of the ground.
In December 2016 my dreams were reignited when Lothian Disability Sport announced they were setting up a powerchair football team, I knew I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by. Being one of the first club members to join, I also helped with setting up the club.
Despite getting this far and waiting so long ,my dreams have been put on hold again, after realising my standard wheelchair cannot cope with the fast paced nature of the sport. My current wheelchair is only designed for everyday use, using it for the sport causes it to overheat and puts it at risk of getting severely damaged (Having a major effect on my daily life and prevents me from participating in the club's activities).
The Scottish Powerchair Football Association have advised that I need a chair that is specifically designed for this sport (Strikeforce). The difference with this chair is it has a cooling system built into the motors to prevent them from overheating, giving me confidence that I can participate without the worry of causing damage to my only form of mobility. Secondly, the chair will be able to meet the speed requirements set by the SPFA and other global governing bodies (FIPFA) enabling me to compete to the standard level.
Unfortunately, with most specialised equipment comes a large price tag and since my club has few sponsors or fundraisers I have been left with no choice but to attempt to raise the amount myself (£6750). I will contribute as much money as I can from savings, however I know I simply cannot afford the full amount due to being in receipt of disability benefits.
If I were to raise the funds for the chair it would play a significant role in my development in the sport. Having the chair would give me the platform to pursue my life long dream of representing Scotland and help them qualify for the FIPFA World Cup!
Organizer
Chris Jacquin
Organizer
