Wheelchair athlete heads to help Ugandan team
Penrith Puma's captain Sarah Burrows heads to Uganda to help set up a wheelchair rugby tournament.
Cumbrian athlete Sarah Burrows is traveling to Uganda to assist in establishing the nation's inaugural wheelchair rugby tournament.
Burrows, captain of the Penrith Pumas, will dedicate two weeks in Kampala to work with a local wheelchair rugby team. The Penrith Pumas are contributing a £5,000 wheelchair, medical provisions, and additional equipment to aid the Ugandan athletes.
The Carlisle native expressed her anticipation: "I'm excited to see how they live and how they manage the daily challenges that come with a disability in somewhere that's maybe not as accessible as the UK."
During her time in Uganda, the 26-year-old will conduct workshops, instruct on game rules, mentor players, and organize matches. "I'm really excited, I'm really glad to be part of it," she stated.
Burrows began playing wheelchair rugby four years ago following a suggestion from her physiotherapist. She remarked on the sport's inclusivity: "You just feel so welcomed by everyone - everyone's disabilities here are different but the second you're in the chair, you're all equal."
The Penrith Pumas, recently crowned league champions, play wheelchair rugby fives, a format indicating five players on the court simultaneously. Matches consist of two 12-minute halves, allowing contact between chairs but not players. A player with the ball must bounce or pass it every 10 seconds, and a try is scored when a player in possession crosses the opponent's try line.
Burrows noted the camaraderie at tournaments, where she supports all teams. She explained: "You just meet people that have gone through different but similar experiences and you all just have this mutual respect for each other and you all want each other to do well."