One of the highlights of the day’s activities was the donation of a hand cycle to Akil Burrow aka Original Wheels, a young sports enthusiast who became paralyzed in 2006 following a motorcycle accident. The donation came courtesy of Achilles International and was handed over by Mr Geoff Kennedy. Photo: VINO

Children and adults alike were happily engaged in a number of activities especially swimming, kayaking and sailing. Photo: VINO

Special Olympian and paraplegic competitor Geoff Kennedy was the guest of honour at a day of sports and fun with the differently abled at the Bitter End Yacht Club on April 6, 2013. Photo: VINO

Akil Burrows gets his first lesson on how to use his new hand-cycle from Chris Ghiorse as Special Olympics BVI Colin Bramble (outer right) looks on. Photo: VINO

The activity, which was coordinated by the Special Olympics BVI committee in collaboration with the BVI Tourist Board, was held at the Bitter End Yacht Club and saw a remarkable response from children and adults alike, who were seen happily engaged in a number of activities especially swimming, kayaking and sailing.

One of the highlights of the day’s activities was the donation of a hand-cycle to Mr Akil Burrow aka Original Wheels, a young sports enthusiast who became paralyzed in 2006 following a motorcycle accident. The donation came courtesy of Achilles International and was handed over by Mr Kennedy.

“This is a gift to me that will help me to try to make something better of my life. With this I will just have to take it one step at a time and hopefully one day I would be one of the best with it,” said a thankful Burrows.    

Kennedy said that it was through great efforts that the organisation made the donation to the young man and it is their hope to someday see him among the greats at Special Olympic Games internationally. “I would say that he take time to learn the cycle, train a lot and have fun. He was a very good athlete prior to becoming paralyzed and so I am sure he will now have an opportunity to be involved in sports again and continue to do great things for the BVI.”

Kennedy said he grew up in the Virgin Islands and had moved to Puerto Rico six years ago where he is an active member of the Achilles International Organisation. “We want to see Akil becoming more active as we are an organisation that believes in sports and the promoting of healthy lifestyles among people with disabilities,” said Kennedy.

Speaking on the day’s activities, Kennedy stressed the importance of having the correct and necessary equipment for persons with special needs. “Equipment for special needs persons are very expensive and so we really need to do extensive fund raising and that the reason I am here today, to help raise as much funds as possible for the BVI Special Olympics organisation.”

One of the many persons present to support the day’s activities was BSafe’s Chris Ghiorse, who has committed to working with Akil with his newly acquired cycle. “The idea is, I believe, is getting him to exhort some of his energy on the hand-cycle and who knows where he could go,” said Ghiorse.

Ghiorse said he would spend some time transforming some of his road experience to promote safety awareness for Akil and others while on the road. He was also of the opinion that there is an open door for athletes with special needs and would be playing his part in preparing Akil and others to take advantage of this and other opportunities that may present themselves.