Southern River: Bletchley Vale Cup gives special needs children the chance to live their sporting dreams

AN innovative local event is giving children with special needs the chance to live out their dreams of athletic glory.

Southern River’s Bletchley Park Primary School launched the Bletchley Vale Cup two years ago as a way to give students with special needs or disability the chance to enjoy a competitive sports carnival in the same way other students did.

In this year’s event on September 14, students from Bletchley Park, Booragoon, Mt Pleasant, Harrisdale and Forest Crescent primary schools will be able to compete in a range of modified events including pool noodle javelin, soccer ball shot put, vortex throw and parachute play.

Bletchley Park’s Clint McNerney, who is the event coordinator, said they had received a lot of positive feedback from students and staff in the past and were excited about this year’s event.

“The carnival created the opportunity to bring student with special needs an interschool carnival where they compete against other schools and also celebrate there disabilities with students from other schools,” he said.

“It assists with social skills, confidence and also provides an avenue for students to partake in sport.

“Teachers really liked the range of games which catered for all disabilities, and the range of organisations that contributed to the event was incredible.”