A charity has celebrated the success of its Paralympics-inspired games for visually impaired individuals.
Berkshire Vision hosted the Beyond Sight Games at Palmer Park Stadium in Reading, and attended by the Mayor of Slough Councillor Balwinder Dhillon.
The event saw visually impaired participants from across Berkshire come together to experience a variety of sports in an inclusive and empowering environment.
It offered an array of accessible and adapted sports including tandem cycling, blind football, swimming, archery, and athletics.
Mr Dhillon actively participated in several sports and engaged with the individuals supported by the charity.
Mr Dhillon also learnt about the impact of the charity's work, and the importance of promoting accessibility and inclusion for visually impaired people in the community.
Many participants enjoyed the opportunity to try new activities for the first time.
Clare Matthews, the marketing and communications officer at Berkshire Vision, said: "We are thrilled with how the day unfolded.
"Seeing our community come together, challenging themselves, and discovering new abilities was truly heartwarming.
"The Beyond Sight Games highlighted the importance of making sports accessible to everyone, and we’re excited about the confidence and joy the event brought to so many."
Participants provided positive feedback about the event.
One said: "I didn’t think I’d be able to do archery, but I’m actually really good at it."
Another attendee added: "I’ve not been on a tandem before, but it was amazing and the pilot was so descriptive and reassuring. I can’t wait to go again."
A key highlight of the day was the participation of Commonwealth Para-athlete gold medallist Katie Crowhurst, who officially opened the games.
Ms Crowhurst's success as a visually impaired para-athlete served as an inspiration to all attendees.
She shared her journey and encouraged participants to push past their limits.
Berkshire Vision, a charity providing practical and friendly support, adapted sports, befriending and activities to visually impaired individuals, aims to create more opportunities for this community to participate in sports.
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