Kids find out that it wheelie was good fun on day

Oliver and Mason Francis enjoyed driving the jeeps and trying out the wheelchairs at the Wheelie Good Fun Day. Photo / George Novak

The Francis family made the most of the activities on offer at yesterday's Wheelie Good Fun Day but also got a taste of what it would be like to be confined to a wheelchair.

Tammy Francis said her three kids really enjoyed their morning out at the Tauranga Racecourse.

"We had a look around the stalls.

"The kids had a go on the activities. There was a Unimog and a firetruck. They got to have a go on the wheelchairs as well and see what it was like for the poor kids that are in wheelchairs. It was good for them to try," she said.

Image 1 of 7: L-R Kauri Johnson, 5 and Mamawa Wirihana, 3, enjoy the ferris wheel.

Oliver Francis, 8, said the wheelchairs were fun to ride around on but knew it was a different story for the children that had to use them to get around.

"That would be sad for them," he said.

Mrs Francis said she saw a story about the event in the newspaper and thought it was a neat idea. "I just thought it would be good for the kids. A cheapish bit of entertainment."

The day included a fun run, markets, a ferris wheel, jeep rides, a bouncy castle, a BMX display, a wheelie relay, wheel in a haystack, tug-of-wheel, cart races, wheelie bin races, more than 100 hot-rod cars and big-wheel trucks. The Bethlehem Te Puna Lions and Te Whanau Kotahi, the service that helps children with disabilities take full part in their community, held the event to jumpstart their fundraising for trikes for children with disabilities.

The Lions are raising money to buy 10 trikes for children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.