Harrup Park’s Adrian Young up for Sporting Wheelies fundraising challenge

Contemplating a day this month working in a wheelchair has given a Mackay business leader pause to reflect his own club’s accessibility. Here’s why he’s taken on the challenge.

Contemplating a day later this month working in a wheelchair has given a Mackay business leader pause about his own club’s accessibility.

Harrup Park general manager Adrian Young had a brief glimpse of life without using his legs at a Sporting Wheelies volleyball match on Friday.

It s a prelude to July 29 when he will compete in the CEO Wheelie Challenge to raise money for the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association.

As Great Barrier Reef Arena project director, Mr Young has been working with Sporting Wheelies to consult on a disability-friendly design for stage two and he wanted to support the organisation further.

Sporting Wheelies’ Mackay chapter runs weekly sporting and recreational programs out of a former indoor bowls hall at 78 Bridge Road.

Regional co-ordinator Peter Sumpter said the program was “a total game-changer” for disabled people.

“This program has been really good because our aim was to give them a safe, non-competitive environment where they can socialise and get in some sneaky fitness,” he said.

“It broadens their world, they meet people, they get opportunities.”

Damien Brown, a former wheelchair basketball captain, said it was “good to be around other people who have similar life stories and journeys”.

“There are some people that have restricted social networks and this is probably a really good outlet for them,” he said.

Sporting Wheelies Mackay chairman David Conway said being part of a group was good for mental heath.

“When you’re in a group of good people, you don’t notice how active you are, because you’re having a lot of fun in between,” he said.

“The more active we can be, especially people with a disability, the better it is for our long-term health, our physical fitness.”

A participant and choreographer in wheelchair dancing, Maddison Rae Hunt, said people came to “be part of a team, and feel included, and have fun”.

She said Mr Young would find his Harrup Park office somewhat wheelchair accessible, though he said he expected some trouble in “back-of-house areas”.

With a host of business leaders across Australia taking on the CEO Wheelie Challenge, Mr Young has been personally faced with assessing his workplace’s accessibility.

“Y’know, I probably haven’t considered someone working at Harrup Park with a disability or being in a wheelchair, and how that might be for them,” he said.

While he will find out in two weeks, Mr Sumpter gave him this advice.

“Mate, get some quick work in on your pecs and shoulders,” he said.