Shropshire Disability Network face book followers & those looking at our events on this website will know a bit about what Abbots Wood Day Service, a centre for adults with learning disabilities in Shrewsbury, is doing on Tuesday 8th March at 1:30 pm at their premises in Monkmoor. 
They are aspiring to a big challenge from Michael McCarthy. Many of you will remember Michael & his dad, Brian being guest speakers at Shropshire Disability Network meeting in June 2015. Michael as a child suffered life changing injuries resulting in many issues including physical, sensory & learning. Michael has aspired to achieve so much ie author of 4 books, adventurer who has completed marathons, hill climbs & coast to coast bike rides to name a few. Michael has challenged Abbots Wood Day Service to complete a bike ride from Lands End to John O’Groats just like he did. Rising to it, Abbots Wood are showing that disability need not be a barrier & this challenge is all about bringing people together, of course to raise a few quid at the same time would be good. So what are the plans at Abbots Wood? At 1.30 pm on 8th March, the service users, staff and friends of Abbots Wood will be cumulatively cycling the equivalent of Land’s End to John O’Groats at their centre & out on Shrewsbury’s cycle paths using an array of bikes that will include exercise bikes, tandems, tricycles, regular bikes and some specially adapted bikes. Lending them support and getting them off to a good start will be the Mayor of Shrewsbury, councillor Miles Kenny and the Mayoress as well as Michael McCarthy who challenged them plus a few surprise guests too! Quest 88 will also be there with some of their All Ability Bikes for everyone to try out.The project has been inspiring lots of people and organisations to lend a helping hand, organising, advising and supplying material and volunteers. From no bikes at all BIBQ have now received donations of two trikes and the free loan of three tandems and at least three exercise bikes. The support of Cycling 4 All Shropshire, Charlotte’s Tandems, The Inclusively Fit Project and Quest 88 has been invaluable. You can also read more here on our face book page about the challenge https://www.facebook.com/Shropshire-Disability-Network-179575935406600/
Haydn Baker from Abbots Wood Day Opportunities told SDN “The project is all about community, bringing people together through a shared physical challenge and BIBQ will also be discovering our country as we progress northwards, looking at the places they go through and sampling the food from our regions to fuel the miles” We wish Abbots Wood all the best, & ask our readers to show support and even go along to Abbots Wood Day Services at Eskdale Rd, Shrewsbury SY2 5UD & have a go on the growing range of bikes & to check out BIBQ on Facebook at The Big Inclusivity Bike Quest and give them a like and share. Should anyone wish to make a donation they will be able to do so via Facebook and directly to Abbots Wood staff and service users. Any money received will be used to enhance the quality of the wide range of activities available at the centre, in these austere times every little helps.