One of the most spectacular wheelchair carnival parades ever is being planned in Great Yarmouth to launch Centre 81's 30th Birthday Festival.
Organisers are hoping for up to 100 people from across the county to join the parade along the seafront on Saturday August 18th.
Many will be in fancy dress with decorated wheelchairs as they leave from outside Joyland at 10am and along Marine Parade to Trafalgar Road and St George's Park where there will be a festival of live entertainment, competitions, activities and refreshments to mark the anniversary.
Around 25 wheelchair users from Centre 81, a charity supporting people with physical and other disabilities, intend to take part in the parade but they want to throw the event open to other users around the area.
Centre 81 chief executive Diana Staines said that they were inviting participants to wear fancy dress on a 'carnival' theme but it was not essential. Anyone interested in taking part must inform the centre in advance to allow for full safety arrangements. People in manual wheelchairs must bring their own 'pusher'.
"Majorettes and the Smokehouse Blue Jazz Band will also take part as the parade leads the way to our festival," said Diana. "We're sure it will be a lot of fun and quite a spectacle."
The festival, which is due to be opened by kick-boxing champion Bin Tyler, will run from 11am-6pm and include live bands on an outside stage.
Centre 81 Players will be presenting their own revue on a theme of how people with disabilities are treated by others in society.
There will be vintage cars, a tug-of-war contest, a free children's playground, balloon race, stocks, sideshows and a continuing jam session for musicians who bring their own instruments.
"This is a special anniversary for us and important for our appeal to raise funds for improved facilities so we hope for a great day and strong support," said Diana. "There's much work to do and we need volunteers to be marshals or stewards or to offer other help on the day."
Contact Centre 81 on 01493 852573.
