Charity gears up for record-breaking year of free river trips

Acharitythatprovidesfreerivertripsfordisabledandlessmobilepeopleisgearingupforitsbiggestseasonyet. WallingfordAccessibleBoatClub(WABC)isnowinitsfifthyearofoperationandhasannouncedplansforarecord-breakingyear. Theclub,whichisentirelyvolunteer-run,hasrecruitedmorevolunteersoverthewinterandhasplannedmoretripsthaneverbefore. Theclub’sspeciallyadaptedWheelyboatWOW-oneissettoreturntotheRiverThames,andWABC’snewhomeincentralWallingfordisexpectedtobereadyforusebyJune. ChairmanJohnJenkinsMBEsaid:“We’reaimingtowelcome500passengersthisyear,thankstoouramazingvolunteersandextendedschedule—wearehopingtooperatesevendaysaweek. ADVERTISEMENT”WenowhaveaccesstobeautifulnewsectionsoftheriverdownstreamfromWallingford,andthatmeansevenmorechancesforpeopletoexperiencethejoyandcalmthatbeingonthewaterbrings.” WABCisinvitingelderlyanddisabledresidentstobookatripandenjoythefreedomoftheriver. MrJenkinssaidtoheadtothecharity