St Andrews Radio

Fundraising efforts by the St Andrews University Netball Club help a young parathlete race in his first competition. The nine year old boy, Callum Sloan, from Dunfermline, received a racing wheelchair provided by the Netball Club's fundraising efforts and with the coordination of Disability Sport Fife.

Over the past academic year, the club raised nearly £2,500 through a variety of bake sales and other fundraisers held throughout the year. Netball Club's involvement with Disability Sport Fife extends over the past two years and have helped other Fife-based aspiring athletes with disabilities compete in their sport. On their involvement, Club President Imogen Davy said that the Club was "incredibly proud of our achievement in raising so much money for such a fantastic organisation" and that "to be able to help those in the local community is incredibly important".

The photo, above, was taken last Wednesday when Callum and his mother, Gayle, came to visit the team after one of their practices to give their thanks. Callum competed in the First Perth Open this past weekend, racing in the 100 metres (59.2 seconds) and 60 metres (25.5 seconds). He aspires to significantly reduce those times in his next race and hopes to also compete for Team GB at a future Paralympics.

This year, the Netball Club aims to work alongside Fife Council and the Active Schools programme to help out with coaching netball at local high schools.