GREAT BRITAIN TAKE SILVER IN WHEELCHAIR RUGBY EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS!

Get Kids Going! support Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby by providing the team with their Paralympic Rugby wheelchairs. The team, pictured above during a recent event, are showing great form in the build up to the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

The Great Britain Wheelchair Rubgy team achieved great success by claiming a silver medal at the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF) European Championships in Nottwil, Switzerland on Sunday 9th October.

By claiming the silver medal, the Great Britain team also confirmed their qualification for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby CEO David Pond reflected on his blog :

“It has been a tough tournament – just what we have needed at this stage of our paralympic preparation – and I think we can be proud that our new look team is really starting to shape up.”

Great Britain had defeated previous European Champions Belgium by a single point before succumbing to Sweden 49-42 in the final.

Get Kids Going! has teamed up with Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR) to support talented wheelchair rugby players on their journey to sporting excellence. This year Get Kids Going! have supported the 'Florida Project', an 8 week intensive international training camp where some of the brightest young talents in wheelchair rugby come together. Get Kids Going! Will continue to support Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby with bespoke rugby wheelchairs all the way to the 2012 Paralympics. Aaron Phipps from the Florida project said: “Being a part of the Florida project has got me closer to playing for Great Britain. Thanks Get Kids Going!”

CONGRATULATIONS TO TEAM GB ON A FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE AT THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS!

SHELLY SECOND IN NEW YORK!

Shelly Woods in action earlier this year

Shelly Woods, Get Kids Going! wheelchair athlete, surprised the charity by deciding at the last minute to take part in the New York City Marathon Wheelchair Race on Sunday November 6th. Bride-to-be Shelly came second in the Women’s Wheelchair race at the ING New York City Marathon after unexpectedly racing just three weeks prior to her wedding!

Shelly raced to her best ever time in New York – 01:52:52 – but it was not quite enough to win as Amanda McGrory pipped her to the line – gaining revenge for Shelly’s victory at the Bupa Great North Run in September!

Speaking after the race on her Twitter feed , Shelly was quick to offer her congratulations to rival and friend Amanda. The pair have swapped a number of victories in recent months as the build up to the 2012 Paralympic Games in London hots-up!

Shelly is one of Britain’s best medal hopes and has been supported by Get Kids Going! since age fourteen. She believes that without the support of the charity, she would not be competing at the level she is now.

Shelly will be marrying her fiancée Chris in her home town of Lytham St Annes – we wish the couple all the best.

CONGRATULATIONS TO SHELLY ON A PERSONAL BEST IN THE ING NEW YORK CITY MARATHON WHEELCHAIR RACE!