wheelchair workshop

Wheelchairs therefore should not be present at the crowded official start.

10. Wheelchair workshop

A marathon is a long and difficult race during which wheelchairs must undergo adjustments to adapt to the terrain.

We advise that the organizing team set up a designated area within the venue, equipped with a kit of tools that might be required for the basic maintenance of wheelchairs, such as inflating types, tightening nuts and bolts, oiling mechanisms etc.

ADVICE ON HOW TO ADAPT WHEELCHAIRS TO RUNNING RACES

Since wheelchair pushers participating in a competition must use equipment complying with the regulations in force in that country, we would like to offer some advice deriving from the experience of the organizations involved in the project Empower.

To take part in a running race with wheelchair users there are some aspects to be considered before the start of the race.

 ensure that the wheelchair user is safely secured to avoid unease and stress  during long distance races, like marathons, physical activity may continue for several hours. Thus, wheelchairs must be as comfortable as possible.

Ideally, wheelchairs projected and built specifically for running races should be used for these events. However, these wheelchairs are often very bulky and are difficult to transport by plane or from one town to another and are usually very costly (fig. 1 and 2).

Fig.1

Fig.2

One possibility could be to adjust the standard version wheelchair, to make it more comfortable.

A standard version wheelchair (fig. 3, fig. 4 and fig.5) may be adapted using a non- electric fifth / spare wheel enabling the two front wheels to rise slightly to cope with rough terrains and small obstacles.

Fig. 3 and Fig. 4

Fig.5

The “fifth /spare wheel” is an extra wheel applied to the front part of the wheelchair and is very easy to do so.

In this way the wheelchair is raised slightly on the front wheels, enabling the wheelchair to manoeuvre smoothly over rough or rocky paths, avoiding that it won’t get blocked.

There are wheels that can be applied to the footrest of stable wheelchairs, and other wheels suitable for folding ones. Various models are available at accessible prices.

These spare wheels can be easily carried on a plane as they are lightweight and battery free.

In the case of a non-standard wheelchair, commercial adaptable kits are not to be taken into consideration. An expert artisan will have to be responsible for creating an ad hoc kit.

Another important factor is to be able to adjust the level of the handlebars for the benefit of the pushers. Kits are available in specialized health outlets.

Otherwise, it can be done by an expert artisan (fig. 6 and fig.7).

Fig.6 Fig.7

From our experience, should you wish to take part in competitions involving rough tracks, eco-marathons, trekking etc., one is recommended to check out a wheelchair manufacturer in France called Joelette.

Summary of Erasmus+ Project : EMPOWER European Marathon Pusher Of WhEelchaiR

The aim of this Erasmus project is to compile an easy Manual which can be a ready reference for those

organizations/clubs that are involved in race organization, to help in the implementation of events that

allow runners to organize tandems, as well as teams, in which someone (or several people)

runs pushing a person with permanent disabilities in a customized racing wheelchair

Such a Reference Manual (Toolkit), besides containing a Technical Manual, can be available:

 Online from website: xxxxxxxx

created with the specific aim for this project with easy downloadable features in pdf format.

 As a Paper Manual that can be:

distributed to all half-marathon/marathon organizers in Europe/distributed to all organizations

that hold events for disabled in Europe.

The Technical Manual contained in the Toolkit will explain how one can modify a normal wheelchair

into an appropriate means of transport that can be pushed during an event, and thus indicate the

components and necessary technical aspects for this to take part, besides indicating other commercial

models that are already on the market for this purpose.

The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an

endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission

cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.