OVER 200 Jersey students have been learning how to play wheelchair basketball this week with a former Paralympian.

Gordon Perry, who represented Great Britain in the sport from 1982 to 1991, has been giving pupils from Haute Valleé, Highlands, Bel Royal and Les Quennevais lessons in playing a game which is becoming popular among both able-bodied and disabled athletes.

‘For some of the children in wheelchairs, it is the first time that they have had the advantage over their classmates in a PE lesson,’ he said. ‘Now the able-bodied kids know how difficult it is in the chair and it really shows to them what people can achieve.’

The classes were part of the Investec Outreach programme, which aims to raise awareness of disabled sports among able-bodied people. Perry first came to Jersey 12 years ago and this is his sixth consecutive yearly visit. ‘You build up friendships through sport,’ he said. ‘We’ve been in Jersey since Monday and have probably seen about 200 kids from five different schools. I know many people through visiting the Island.’