The Red Wheelies

A group of nine ladies on wheels are causing a stir in Kent, with the helps of Shania Twain, to raise money for MS.

The Red Wheelies are neither aerobatic display copycats or some new disabled car but an energetic dance display team with a difference, as they all have multiple sclerosis and ride mobility scooters.

Eight of the nine members are grannies, two celebrate their ruby wedding anniversaries this year, three will turn 60 before the end of 2009 and between them they boast an impressive combined age of 542.  They were originally formed when the passionate group started racing their mobility scooters to raise money for MS.

Choreography

While waiting for one of their races some of the team started weaving around each other and thus the Red Wheelies were born.  A dressage choreographer designed the dance routine, a red and white uniform was agreed on and as the scooters being used were all red, the name seemed just right.

Although the original team disbanded and members have changed over the years, the Red Wheelies, as they are now, are going strong in Kent.  The ‘wheelies’ practice regularly to Shania Twain music and show off their perfected dance routine at numerous charity fun days and local events to raise money for the Kent MS Therapy Centre (KMSTC), of which they are all members.

Fundraiser

Earlier this year the Wheelies decided that to raise a substantial amount of money for the centre they would have to organise a large charity fundraiser.  It was agreed that the team would ‘walk’ Hadrien’s Wall in Cumbria in their mobility scooters to raise as much as possible. Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd, the company with overall responsibility for the trails, helped plan the route, Forever Active donated sports scooters and a local firm donated wet weather gear.

The trek took 9 days to complete the 84 miles between Newcastle and Bowness on Solway.  The team consisted of 16 individuals – nine Wheelies plus seven long-suffering husbands acting as the teams support crew.  The team raised money for their charity, helped create a trail suitable for use by disabled people, raised positive awareness for multiple sclerosis, showed there is life with MS and had fun and a memorable experience.

So far over £10,000 has been donated to the KMSTC as a result of the walk and donations are still being made.  Other performances by the team are in the pipeline and work has started on preparing for another walk in 2010, this time of the Pilgrim’s Way.

Jackie Weeden, of the Red Wheelies, commented: “Our aims, whether doing our regular performances or taking part in charity walks, are always the same – to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis in a positive light and try to show that if you are diagnosed with the condition you don’t have to stop living.  Our philosophy is that we might have to accept the odd limitation but we certainly aren’t going to give up.

For more information on the Red Wheelies please visit www.redwheelies.co.uk