Earlier this week, Swan Bowlers Bowls Club were presented with the Toyota Parasport Club of the Month award by Snows Toyota Hedge End.
Announced in June, the Indoor Bowls club, located at Riverside Leisure Centre in Winchester received the award based on their continued efforts and dedication in supporting their local community.
Paralympian Kylie Grimes MBE was one of the special guests and delighted members of the club with motivational tales from her sporting journey, including her recent Gold Medal win in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Wheelchair Rugby.
A friendly and community driven club, Swan Bowlers Bowls Club provide those who have a physical disability with the opportunity to learn how to play bowls and, if they choose to, progress within the leagues.
Carol Asher, Organising Secretary of the Swan Bowlers, spoke of the achievement saying: “we're so thrilled to get it because there are an awful lot of volunteers that are involved with Swan Bowlers and without them, we just couldn’t operate the club at all. Everybody puts a lot of work into it, but we get a lot out of it.”
Kylie also spoke about the support from Parasport and how significant community initiatives like Swan Bowlers Bowls Club really are.
"Parasport over the years has been phenomenal. I wouldn’t be where I am today without it and I wouldn’t have my gold medal around my neck, I owe my life to it to be honest. It opened my eyes to seeing different things, different sports.
Grimes MBE, also added that the support from Toyota was important and has been vital to making Parasport “more inclusive and gets more people involved.”
Parasport powered by Toyota is the new way to discover inclusive local opportunities to become more active.
The ambition is to create the UK’s biggest fun and vibrant community for players, parents and coaches to share their experiences of parasport, and find useful hints, tips and information on what’s happening near you. This includes in depth listings and all the information you need to connect to local inclusive opportunities.
Toyota believe there’s a sport or activity out there for everyone – and by highlighting inclusive activities and one-off events which able bodied and disabled people can do together, we hope Parasport can inform and inspire people to discover something new.
Snows Toyota are delighted to be able to present this award to such a well-deserving club.