The Wheelie Gang in Greenwich are wheely pleased with their growing club

BY NEWS REPORTER
james@slpmedia.co.uk

A mum who founded a club for children in wheelchairs has secured larger premises for the growing weekly meet-up.

Emma Russell, from New Eltham, set up the club, The Wheelie Gang, on June 20 for her daughter Evie who suffered from feeling low and alone as the only child at her school in a wheelchair.

The Wheelie Gang held a fundraiser at new location, Shooters Hill Rugby Club in Greenwich, on Saturday, August 31, where they raised £1,200 in one afternoon.

Speaking at the event Emma said: “I’m just so emotional, it’s overwhelming actually. It’s great to see everyone having fun.

You never just get to bump into other people in wheelchairs.”

Evie uses a wheelchair because she has spina bifida, a condition where the baby’s spinal cord does not develop fully in the womb.

But since starting the club Emma has noticed a transformation in her daughter. She said: “At school the teachers said Evie’s confidence has grown and her memory has improved. I couldn’t believe it.”

The larger venue in Shooter’s Hill means Emma can open the club up to older children, too.

She added: “Looking to the future if we could open four days a week we would.

We want to not just be The Wheelie Gang, but a place where we can provide emotional support, therapy support, yoga for children, nutrition and exercise.”

The Wheelie Gang trustee Reginald Wyles has worked with Emma since day one and has watched it flourish.

He said: “We didn’t realise it would grow so quickly, it’s been a fantastic journey so far.

For the children to feel the unity is really important. Children and their siblings come along and no one is excluded from this club.

“We have a fantastic team around us and we just have to make sure we have the determination and drive to keep doing it.

“We’re trying to keep our feet on the ground. Everyone wants to be a part of this so we need those funds to make it work.”

The Wheelie Gang volunteer Anwar Sakhabuth was proud of the camaraderie between group members. He said: “I am loving it.

One really good thing I have seen come of this is you have the kids who are in wheelchairs and they have siblings who aren’t.

“But when it comes to The Wheelie Gang even their siblings are getting in a wheelchair and are interacting on the same kind of playing field.”

Charity chief executive and mother Elly Heaton-Virgo also attended the fundraiser. She said: “We think it’s really important to support local charities.

What Emma is doing is born out of a real need, a gap has been identified and she is trying to fill that.

“It’s really nice to see a lot of children here in wheelchairs. It’s nice to have kids playing in an environment where that is the standard.

“You have able-bodied and disabled children playing together and not thinking themselves as different. Just all being kids together.”

The Wheelie Gang runs every Tuesday from 5pm until 7pm at Shooters Hill Rugby Club in Mayday Gardens.

You can support the club by donating at www.thewheeliegang.com.