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£20,000 boat gives disabled access to River Tees

Jul 17 2011 by Andrew Glover, Sunday Sun

Wheelyboat in action on the River Tees

A CLUB that helps disabled people get out on the River Tees has raised enough cash to buy a new boat.

The Tees Wheelyboats Club was set up last year to help disabled people of all ages enjoy boating.

The club, which is based at the River Tees Watersports Centre in Stockton, has helped raise £20,000 to buy the Wheelyboat Mk.III which will be permanently based on the river.

Half of the cash was raised by The Wheelyboat Trust, a national organisation which helps clubs around the country.

The first Wheelyboat was launched in London by Prince Charles in 1985. Originally the trust helped disabled anglers but the need for disabled access to water forced a name change in 2004.

The new Tees Wheelyboat has been specially designed with a bow door that is hinged and lowers to form a ramp allowing easy access for wheelchairs.

Chairman Alan Kallagher, 70, from Teesside, was determined to bring a Wheelyboat to the North East after an accident in 2001 left him in a wheelchair.

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