Cheltenham charity worker wins award for inclusive cycling project

A Cheltenham woman who leads an inclusive cycling project for disabled people is riding high after she won a major accolade on Saturday from the Women’s Festival of Cycling.

A Gloucestershire House resident on an adapted bike with MaryClare next to her

MaryClare Faulkner, who works at disability charity Leonard Cheshire and runs their Gloucestershire Wheels for All project, is named among the 100 Women in Cycling 2020. MaryClare gained praise for the pioneering project, which gives disabled and non-disabled people the chance to get together and enjoy riding on accessible bikes.

Reflecting on her award, MaryClare said:

“Looking at the other brilliant women who made the list, it’s quite an accolade and a real honour to be among them. It’s incredible how powerful Wheels for All can be. Adapted bikes make it possible for everyone to cycle. It’s great to see how much enjoyment and benefit people get from it.

“The project could not run without the commitment of my Deputy, Anne, and our amazing Wheels for All volunteers; thank you to every colleague at Leonard Cheshire who supports the project. I feel very lucky to do this job.”

While in her previous role as a physio at Leonard Cheshire’s Gloucestershire House care home, MaryClare saw the potential for accessible cycling when residents relished the chance to ride adapted bikes in a triathlon. The Gloucestershire Wheels for All project opened in 2017 and now supports disabled people and their families throughout the region. The wide range of adapted bikes includes recumbent trikes, hand cycles and wheelchair transporter bikes.

Gloucestershire Wheels for All still receives many enquiries via the Leonard Cheshire website and will relaunch inclusive cycling sessions at the end of July, with appropriate social distancing. Wheels for All is one of the many projects the charity runs for disabled people throughout the UK, epitomising their mantra #ActuallyICan. These projects are proving more important than ever as the UK starts to adjust to a new normal.

Media enquiries

For additional information and photos, contact Nick Bishop in Leonard Cheshire’s external communications team:  E: nick.bishop@leonardcheshire.org. T: 01202 747100 / 07889 976267. Out of hours press office mobile: 07903 949 388.

Planting at Gloucestershire House

Gloucestershire House

Gloucestershire House is a purpose-built building, with six separate additional bungalows, for 36 adults with physical disabilities. Being a short drive from Cheltenham town centre, we’re close to shops, restaurants, cinema, swimming pool, horseriding and ten-pin bowling. Most facilities in Cheltenham are wheelchair accessible, and there is a pedestrian friendly zone in the centre.