2012 excitement builds in Lowestoft as Disability Showcase comes to town

charities / Events in Norfolk and Suffolk / Health & Wellbeing / Waveney Valley March 10, 2012

Disabled people in the Waveney area will have the chance to take part in an exciting day of 2012 themed activities next month.

Disability charity Optua is holding its 10th Disability Showcase Day at the newly refurbished Water Lane Sportcentre in Lowestoft on Saturday 24 March 2012.

The event will give disabled people with disabilities the chance to take part in a number of sport and activity workshops in the lead up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The event is open to anyone from Suffolk or Norfolk who wants to take part.

The event is the latest organised as part of Optua’s Disability Sport Academy Project which has enabled hundreds of people across Suffolk with learning, physical and sensory disabilities of all ages to try different sports and activities with a 2012 theme. This Showcase Day follows on from the successful event Optua organised in Lowestoft in 2007.

The Showcase Days have been awarded the official London 2012 Inspire Mark for the way they’ve used the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to inspire local people.

The activities on the day will include Boccia, Climbing wall, cycling, dance, football, gymnastics, judo, table tennis, spin class, squash, swimming and zumba.

David Finn, Manager of Optua’s Leisure Service, said “We launched our Disability Sport project in 2005 when it was announced that the Olympic and Paralympic Games were coming to London.

It seems unbelievable that 2012 is here already and we hope that we can help to get people in Lowestoft excited too! The Showcase Day is all about encouraging people to have a go at sports and other activities and about having fun.

I hope many local people with a disability will come along and enjoy the day. It’ll also be a great way for people to see the new facilities at the leisure centre.”

People will need to register for the event by calling Optua Leisure on 01473 836770, emailing [email protected] or going online at www.optua.org.uk and downloading a registration form.

Optua has also recently launched new ‘Big Splash’ swimming sessions at the sportcentre which run every Friday from 1pm to 2pm.

www.optua.org.uk

Notes:

As well as the Disability Showcase Days, Optua has also helped to set up and support disability sport clubs and opportunities across Suffolk and beyond. Optua has also worked closely with other key organisations such as Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Sport who are working to ensure Suffolk makes the most of the opportunities which the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games present.

Optua is part of the Avenues Trust Group which is made up of several charitable organisations providing services to adults and young people with a range of disabilities and complex needs such as mental health, learning disabilities, challenging behaviour, autism and dementia. Avenues provides services in Kent, London, East Anglia and the South East. For more information please visit: www.avenuesgroup.org.uk.