Weir Archer Academy is a volunteer run club providing grassroots to elite development for wheelchair racing athletes. We rely totally on the generosity of donors and sponsors to fund our activities.
Sport is at the centre of what we do. There is no doubt about that. But this is about more than just racing. WAA is a family and the health and well being that is promoted in our members through physical activity and social inclusion reaches far beyond the track. The club is at the centre of our members’ lives and provides an invaluable support network for disabled sports ... participants, family and friends.
Currently we have no fit for purpose indoor training facility, so cannot operate when outside weather is unsuitable. Aside from the obvious missed training opportunities, the nucleus hub of the team getting together is lost.
Developing our own training room will fix this.
We have 24 active members ranging from 9 to 40 and from those starting out in the sport to the inspirational David Weir - 6 Paralympic Golds and 8 London Marathon wins! In 2018 we have seen 6 athletes who started their careers with WAA and have been coached by Jenny Archer and her team throughout go on to bring home 8 medals from the European Championships, Commonwealth Games and CP World Games. 14 who have competed internationally this year!
Our junior section has 6 active members - young people who are inspired by the success of the Paralympians around them and who will openly tell you - as will all of our athletes - that WAA irreplaceably filled a void in their lives.
Every week we watch our athletes push to improve performance and every season we see improved personal bests and success at all levels.
From David’s 8th London Marathon win and the raft of international medals to our youngest and newest athletes competing in their first competitions, 2018 has been another amazing year of achievement.
None of that is possible without the money we receive through donations. Every penny goes to developing the academy. None of our coaches or volunteers receives any remuneration.
This project - a dedicated WAA indoor training facility - will take the club to a new level. When we are able to secure use of an indoor training area currently - take a look at the YouTube link - the conditions and environment are just not suitable. Remember all of these athletes use wheelchairs for day to day mobility, so imagine the logistics of getting them in and out of this setting!
Please help us make this happen. We have applied to AVIVA for a grant to fund the ‘build’, but need more funds to fully equip, run and maintain the facility and run the club.
Thanks for reading and supporting.