Latest news with #CerebraInnovationCentre
Business News Wales
24-06-2025
- Health
- Business News Wales
Children's Charity Unveils World-First Skatepark Aid Inspired by Swansea Boy
Children's charity Cerebra has unveiled an innovative solution to improve accessibility in skateboarding inspired by a little boy who was 'desperate' to skate. The harnessing system was revealed on the latest leg of Relay Your Way, a mass participation relay across Wales, Scotland and England involving more than 9,000 school children, participants, and supporters. Cerebra, the national UK charity dedicated to supporting children who have a neurological condition, created Relay Your Way to promote inclusivity in sports and ensure that no child is left on the sidelines. Over 33 days the baton will journey through towns and cities, bringing together thousands of people in a celebration of accessibility, adventure and inclusion. Cerebra's Innovation Centre, which designs bespoke products to help disabled children discover and engage with the world around them, revealed its new system to help children with reduced mobility take part in park skating at Exist Skatepark as Relay Your Way made its way through Swansea. Ollie, 12, inspired the creation of the new system after his mum approached Cerebra searching for a solution to help him give skating a try. Ollie has Down's Syndrome and some challenges with his balance that can make using a skateboard more difficult. 'Ollie had been absolutely desperate to try skateboarding but he had a few issues with balance that meant a regular skateboard just wasn't suitable,' Ollie's mum Jilly said. 'I contacted Cerebra and they developed a board that has two handles for him so he can push off, hold himself up and do it himself now.' Ollie has been using his new skateboard regularly, but the team at Cerebra felt they could develop another adaptation around park skating. The result is a first of its kind harness system which incorporates a gantry fitted above the park's obstacles and ramps. Some of Ollie's mental health challenges stem from the trauma of sadly losing his sister, Lily, who also had Down's Syndrome, a month before her tenth birthday in May 2019. Jilly says Ollie now has increased anxiety but taking part in sport helps him engage with others, socialise and keep fit. He now plays for a rugby team as well as making trips out on his skateboard. 'When my daughter was alive we had one of Cerebra's oxygen trolleys,' Jilly said. 'I'm just so grateful that they do this sort of thing to help children and parents.' Dr Ross Head, Cerebra Innovation Centre Lead, said: 'We wanted to enable Ollie to go skateboarding, but importantly, we wanted him to skate with other children and on equipment that looks the same as theirs. The gantry system was a huge undertaking, but we were confident that Ollie and many other children will be able to learn to skate and enjoy the comradery of the skatepark. 'Adaptive skateboarding will enable Ollie to learn a new sport, make friends and exercise – some really important aspects for living a healthy life and improving wellbeing.' Kate Leonard, Exist Skatepark owner, said: 'Exist skatepark is absolutely delighted to be a part of Cerebra's new inclusive innovation. 'This isn't just good news for our skatepark, it's good news for accessibility, inclusivity, Wales and the sport of skateboarding as a whole. We are honoured to be a part of this journey and cannot wait to see how it impacts the landscape of skateboarding and the children, young people and communities who will benefit from it.'
BBC News
22-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Swansea harness aid helps boy with Down syndrome to skateboard
A 12-year-old boy has trialled a world-first skatepark aid that will allow him to participate in the sport without the help of his who has Down's syndrome, used a harness system at Exist Skatepark in Swansea because he wanted to skateboard with his was created by the Cerebra Innovation Centre which designs and builds bespoke products to help disabled children take part in Leonard, who owns the skatepark, said she hoped the technology will make the sport more inclusive. Ollie's mum, Jilly, said the experience was "much more inclusive" than when he had tried other sports in the past."He has to have specialist equipment for that whereas, if he's skateboarding, he can join in with other children," she said she was "quite surprised" it had not been done before as there are plenty of children that need a "bit of extra support" when skateboarding."Not just children with disabilities either," she consists of a harness which helps Ollie keep his balance on a standard skateboard, with handles he can hold on the family is from Leicester which means trips to the Swansea skatepark will be rare due to the distance. They live opposite another skate park and after seeing other teenagers doing it, Ollie "really wanted to have a go"."He had a good time but I couldn't let go with him because he was too scared to do it," Jilly said the aid will help him to build up confidence to do it "without an adult holding him."Jilly would "definitely" like to see the equipment being implemented in other parts of the UK and, preferably, a bit closer to home."It would be beneficial to a lot of children across the country so if it could be expanded that would be great." Dr Ross Head, Cerebra Innovation Centre Lead, said the idea stemmed from seeing a video of Ollie skating in park."He didn't have very good balance so his mum was holding him up," he team developed a skateboard with handles which was "great", but Dr Head wanted to go a step further, as they attempted to tackle the "social stigma" of using equipment that is decided to create a brand new skatepark adaptation so Ollie would be able to use a harness system. "Exist Skatepark were over the moon to help," he new system has allowed Ollie to "have the same skateboard as everybody else" which was "really important for us," according to Dr charity Cerebra are set to unveil the new system for public use at Exist Skatepark on Sunday. Dr Head said Ollie has shown that it "definitely works" but there is "much more we can do"."I think we've just scratched the surface," he said."There's a huge amount we can do for disabled skateboarders.""It would work for anybody just learning to skate. It's going to be absolutely amazing and it could take around 30 people a day."The current framework is suitable for people that are new to skating, but Dr Head said he hoped it will be able to be used by more experienced skaters in the future. The Exist Skatepark has been owned by Kate Leonard and her partner since met Dr Head in December last year when he came to her with a proposition to feature the harness in her found it "really emotional" to see Ollie in the skate park and admitted she "cried a few times"."We do an awful lot of things in the community but this had such a new dimension to what we can offer," she said seeing Ollie's face was a "delight" adding that it "felt like a moment".Kate said that skateboarding has to "move forward" and the way to do that is to allow "everyone to do it.""I think it's massive for Wales," she said."There are only four indoor skate parks in Wales, which is crazy, but if you start making all of those accessible to everyone, then that creates a boom, you know."
STV News
05-06-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Boy, 8, with rare genetic condition launches 2,500km relay race across the UK
An eight-year-old boy has become the first child to pass the baton from the start line in Glasgow to kickstart the Relay Your Way race. Wolfe Gorton boarded a unique fibreglass boat at Pinkston Water sports Centre accompanied by safety swimmers before passing the baton to paddleboarders, and then on to the shore where it began its journey through Scotland, England, and Wales, finishing up in Windsor. Wolfe, one of 9,000 young people taking part in the relay race, has cerebral palsy and Prader-Willi Syndrome, a rare genetic syndrome that causes decreased muscle tone and some delayed milestones. Cerebra, the charity organising the race said that the relay has been designed to promote inclusivity in sports, with wheelchair users, adapted surfers, and frame runners all taking part. 'All children should have the right to put themselves in a challenging situation to enjoy adventures and enjoy sports,' said Jess Camburn-Rahmani, CEO at Cerebra. 'Every child needs to discover what brings them joy- so many times children are told its too risky or not made for them if they have a disability and we don't think that's fair or right,' she added. STV News The relay has been designed to promote inclusivity in sports, with wheelchair users, adapted surfers, and frame runners all taking part. Over 33 days the baton will journey 2,500km through towns and cities, bringing together thousands of people in a celebration of accessibility, adventure and inclusion. Wolfe's mother Emily Gorton said: 'Wolfe is really excited to go on what he will call a pirate boat, because he's obsessed with them. 'There needs to be a lot more awareness and thought put into how to make sport truly inclusive.'' Disability rights advocate and sportswoman, Dr Julie McElroy, was also in attendance. She said: 'Sport has helped me grow physically, mentally, and emotionally. 'That's why Relay Your Way is so powerful – it isn't just a relay, it's an action statement. 'It celebrates the 1.5 million young people in the UK with disabilities and reminds the world that every child deserves the chance to play, move, and thrive.' The Relay Your Way baton was designed by the Cerebra Innovation Centre to be easily carried by wheelchair users, adapted surfers, and frame runners and will be passed between participants over 301 stages to the finish line at Parallel Festival of Inclusivity in Windsor on July 6. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Glasgow Times
03-06-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Young boy launching UK's 'most inclusive relay' in Glasgow
Eight-year-old Wolfe Gorton is the first child to pass the baton for Cerebra's 2,500km Relay Your Way event on June 3. Cerebra, the UK charity dedicated to helping children with neurological conditions, designed the relay as a celebration of accessibility and inclusivity in sport. Wolfe and his mum Emily Gorton (Image: Supplied) Read more: 2,500km relay to kick off in Glasgow with special help from Rangers For 33 days, the baton will be carried across towns and cities, uniting thousands of participants. This year, the event begins at Glasgow's Pinkston Watersports Centre, with Wolfe, who has cerebral palsy and Prader-Willi Syndrome, launching the relay. His condition, a rare genetic syndrome, causes decreased muscle tone and some delayed milestones. Sport has long been a huge part of Wolfe's life, with a fondness for swimming sparked by early pool experiences as part of a water babies group. He also enjoys horse riding, having started hippotherapy at just 14 months old. Wolfe enjoys horse riding (Image: Supplied) Emily Gorton, Wolfe's mum, said: "Seeing Wolfe take the lead as the first participant of Cerebra's Relay Your Way is really important for us as his parents. "There needs to be a lot more awareness and thought put into how to make sport truly inclusive. "Wolfe is really excited to go on what he will call a pirate boat because he's obsessed with them." The baton, designed by the Cerebra Innovation Centre to be easily carried by wheelchair users, adapted surfers, and frame runners, will be passed between participants over 301 stages to the finish line at the Parallel Festival of Inclusivity in Windsor on July 6. Dr Julie McElroy, a trailblazer for disability rights and accomplished sportswoman, will attend the start line of the relay and carry the baton for a distance to its first stop at Dunard Primary School. She said: 'My relationship with sport began at an early age thanks to my parents' determination that I would have the same opportunities in life as my older brother and sister. "Sport has helped me grow physically, mentally, and emotionally — a reminder of its power to heal, connect, and transform lives. "That's why Relay Your Way is so powerful. "It isn't just a relay, it's an action statement. "It celebrates the 1.5 million young people in the UK with disabilities and reminds the world that every child deserves the chance to play, move, and thrive. 'Events like this don't just raise awareness; they create real opportunity. "I'm living proof of what can happen when we believe in potential over limitation and I hope this relay empowers more young people to find their way into sport, just like I did.' Jess Camburn-Rahmani, chief executive at Cerebra (Image: Supplied) Read more: Scotland's Home of the Year star to run Glasgow 10k in 'daft' footwear Jess Camburn-Rahmani, chief executive at Cerebra, said: "Cerebra is incredibly proud to be celebrating the power of sport to bring people of all abilities together with Relay Your Way and lead this nationwide movement for inclusion and change. 'Participation in sport should be equally available to everyone, and this relay is a powerful statement that no child should ever feel left out. "Whether you take part, cheer from the sidelines, or donate, you'll be helping to create a world where all young people are fully included, supported, and celebrated. "We wish the best of luck to everyone taking part." More information about the event can be found on the Relay Your Way website.
Glasgow Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
2,500km Glasgow relay to kick off with help of Rangers
Cerebra's Relay Your Way on June 3 will mark the first of 300 stages at Pinkston Watersports. On the first day, the relay baton, held initially by one lucky child, will be passed from Cerebra's unique fibreglass boat to a group of paddleboarders and then onto the shore. The baton will travel across Glasgow, involving three schools in running and cycling stages, and making a special stop at Ibrox Stadium for a penalty shoot-out with the Rangers' mascot Broxi the Bear. Read more: 'Emotional rollercoaster': Mum who beat cancer completes challenge in friend's memory Imogen Ashwell-Rice with the Race Your Way baton (Image: Supplied) Relay Your Way baton (Image: Supplied) Read more: Free game of bowling on offer in Glasgow for martial arts lovers The relay will continue for 33 days, journeying through over 40 counties, before reaching the finish line at Windsor on July 6. Cerebra, a UK charity dedicated to supporting children with a neurological condition, created Relay Your Way to promote inclusivity in sports. The event hopes to bring together thousands of people in a celebration of accessibility, adventure, and inclusion. The baton itself was designed by the Cerebra Innovation Centre and will be carried by wheelchair users, adapted surfers, and frame runners. The route will cover more than 300 stages, ranging from a 200-metre walk to an 80-kilometre cycling challenge, ensuring there are opportunities for everyone to participate, regardless of ability.
