Leeds Law Firm Irwin Mitchell Supports Bradford Disability Sports Event
Personal injury staff from national law firm Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office were on hand to support the West Yorkshire Panathlon Challenge yesterday (16 June) at the Richard Dunn Centre in Bradford.
The event, sponsored by Irwin Mitchell, offered an opportunity for disabled children of primary school age from the region to take part in a variety of sports designed for athletes with severe impairments, including boccia, polybat, table cricket and new age kurling.
The Panathlon Challenge is a national charity which provides sporting opportunities to over 7,500 disabled young people every year.
Yesterday’s event saw the Calderdale Reds, made up of students from St Augustine’s CE School, win the title, with runners-up Bradford Hurricanes, and in third place Bradford Blues.
Panathlon is open to young people with a range of physical and sensory impairments as well as those with severe and complex learning difficulties.
David King, Serious Injury Solicitor, and Keith Norman, Client Liaison Manager, from Irwin Mitchell’s personal injury team in Leeds attended the event, with the team refereeing the boccia events.
Irwin Mitchell together with Boccia England and West Yorkshire Sport set up a boccia club in Leeds which meets at the Armley Leisure Centre every Wednesday 17:00 to 18:00, and is run by staff from Irwin Mitchell who are all qualified boccia coaches. The team is currently launching a social media competition to name the boccia club.
David King, said:
Expert Opinion
“As part of our on-going Don’t Quit Do It campaign, we want to encourage an increased participation in disability sport, and the Challenge gave the children a fun opportunity to do so.
“It was truly rewarding to be a part of such a great initiative and to see children working together in teams and enjoying sport that has been adapted to their needs. Not only did we support the day, but we both got stuck in with demonstrating the sports to the children, as well as being able to referee some boccia games that the children loved.” David King - Senior Associate