Wheelchair using FA-qualified referee needs your help!
By Sarah Wood | 20th June 2019
Punchline is calling on Gloucestershire businesses to help the UK's first wheelchair-using FA-qualified referee.
Nathan, 23, from Gloucestershire has cerebral palsy and his powered wheelchair is his legs. But it is now beyond repair and could stop working at any time.
Without his wheelchair, Nathan would be unable to carry on with his passion for refereeing.
Nathan said: "Living with a disability can be very challenging but I try to be as active and as independent as possible but, of course, I need my powered wheelchair to do this.
"Being without a powered chair for any length of time would have a massive impact on me, taking away all of my independence."
An NHS-funded chair would only have a top speed of 4mph, not quick enough for Nathan to keep up with his refereeing. The most suitable chair for Nathan is Quickie Q 700 Sedeo Pro, costing £8,660, and he is trying to raise the funds to buy it.
Nathan has spent a lot of time supporting children's disability charity, Whizz-Kidz, being a member of their Kidz Board and speaking at a number of events around the country.
He is now involved with Active Gloucestershire, supporting people to become active every day. He volunteers at Cheltenham Town Football Club to sell programmes and is a member of the Robins Trust Board (the supporters association) working towards the club's disability audit. He also assists Mobliloo, advocating for better changing facilities for disabled people.
Nathan has recently become a co-trainer for Building Circles and visits schools, speaking to pupils about disability and coping with being bullied. In the past, he have volunteered for Gloucester Rugby, helping with their wheelchair rugby training sessions.
Punchline said: "Nathan is passionate about sport and disability and supports a number of charities and community organisations. It would be great to see if Gloucestershire could give something back and support him to keep doing the things he loves."
If you can support Nathan's fundraising, please go to his crowdfunding page https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/nathan-s-new-wheels
For the chance to win 4 Cricket World Cup tickets for the match beginning 10.30am Friday 21st June, email your bid (anything you can offer) to beth@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk. Must be collected from Punchline HQ, Gloucester.
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