Memories of the Paralympics surely won’t fade for those disabled people who visited or stayed on board the Bruce Trust’s canal boat The Diana, which made the long journey by canal and river to play its part in London 2012.
Now, The Diana is on the final stage of her five week, one hundred and sixty five mile round trip to the Paralympics – on her way back to her home base at Great Bedwyn. During her time moored on the Regent’s Canal, as near to the Olympic Stadium as the strict security would allow, The Diana provided accommodation to dozens of disabled visitors from all over the United Kingdom who were visiting the Paralympics.
The Diana is especially adapted to take those who are wheelchair-bound. Amongst those welcomed aboard were a group of men and women from the armed services who are getting specialist treatment with the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court.
For the final part of The Diana’s epic journey back to Great Bedwyn, she is again being crewed by members of local Rotary Clubs who are offering day trips to groups of people with special needs.
The founder of the Bruce Trust, David Bruce, says the whole adventure to the Paralympics has been a huge success: “It has given my Trust a unique opportunity not only to provide day trips en route each way to local groups of disabled people, but also to provide an invaluable overnight base near the Olympic Stadium for dozens of disabled visitors to the Paralympics. None of this would have been possible without my Trust’s wonderful voluntary helpers and, of course, the many members of Newbury, Hungerford and Thatcham Rotary Clubs”.
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