THE gift of a specially-adapted wheelchair by Burnham-on-Sea Rotary Club will enable a local 16-year-old suffering from cerebral palsy to achieve one of his greatest ambitions.

Bradley Bedford has long wanted to be able to enjoy going onto Burnham Beach with his younger brothers, but his disability has forced him to remain in his wheelchair on the Esplanade, because normal chair wheels sink into the sand and become bogged down.

Burnham Rotary Club learned of his plight and arranged for a suitable wheelchair to be specially adapted, with extra-wide tyres for the main wheels and an extended, similarly equipped ‘free wheel’ at the front.

This takes the weight off the small front wheels, which are too small to accept wide sand tyres.

The Invictus Active wheelchair is similar to those used by disabled athletes, with special axle clips for the large main wheels manufactured by Brent Engineering.

Best of all, Bradley is delighted with his chair and has already tested it successfully on the beach.

Rotary is open to men and women of all ages who are in business or work in the community, and who wish to use their experience for the benefit of others.

The organisation initiates local, national and international projects to promote world understanding and peace, while also aiming to improve life conditions for people of all ages and cultures.

For more information about Burnham-on-Sea Rotary Club, you can e-mail info@bos-rotary.org, or for more on Rotary generally see www.ribi.org.