The British Deputy High Commissioner in The Gambia, Graham Birse, yesterday donated thirteen wheelchairs to the Gambia National Paralympic Committee in a presentation ceremony held at the Independence Stadium, Bakau.  

Presenting the items to the president of The National Paralympic Committee, Sulayman Colley, Mr birse said: "The charitable donation comes shortly after the recent two-day National Sports Conference and that it will help contribute to participation of sports by people with disability in the country."

The wheelchairs, he said, have a multi-purpose and can also be used for mobility by other disabled persons to be able to participate in community activities and enhance their family life. The Deputy thanked all those who had made the donation possible including Stephan from the NHS Wheelchair Centre based in Solihull, Birmingham who  kindly provided the wheelchairs, Jean Harrop from P H Winterton & Sons, Jason Wilson and Ryan Ashe from DHL Global Forwarding (UK) Ltd who between them managed to deliver the wheelchairs within 24 hours of notice from Cheshire to Felixstowe, a distance of some 250 miles.

In the Gambia, Mr Birse hailed George and Lloyd from Redcoat Express (G) Limited for shipping the wheelchairs and Stephan Banna of Edgar Holdings for clearing and delivering the wheelchairs to the High Commission. He thanked the staff of the British High Commission who assisted in delivering the wheelchairs to paralympic committee. He also commended Mae Winterton who originally approached the NHS Wheelchair Centre for the donation.  Mae has been visiting the Gambia regularly for the past 18 years, building schools and providing piped clean water for schools and villages in the surrounding areas.

On her last visit she opened nursery schools in Farafenni and Tabokoto on the outskirts of Latrikunda and last year opened Maka Farafenni School in the Badibou area, which is now a Lower Basic School as well as a Nursery School. She also maintains the schools with furniture, writing materials, computers and sport equipment.