Volunteers trek Morocco for children with disabilities

11:04am Thursday 19th April 2007

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THE highest peak in North Africa will be tackled by dedicated volunteers raising money for the disabled children they work with.

Up to 20 volunteers, parents and swimming instructors, who help at a Friday night swimming club for disabled children and their families, want to raise £5,000 for the Redbridge charity which runs the club: FISSSC (pronounced "fish" - Families in Support of Special needs Swimming Club).

They are preparing to climb mount Jbel Toubkal in Morocco over a long weekend in June to fund days out at theme park Drayton Manor and Stubbers adventure centre.

FISSSC's ethos is to challenge disability through adventure.

Chairwoman Laura Kelly said: "It gives them opportunities they just wouldn't have otherwise. We have a holistic approach and work around the children.

"A lot of the children have autism and we are able to give them one-on-one support."

The swimming club is the only one of its kind in the area and has been running for over 20 years with the help of committed volunteers aged 14 to 20.

Miss Kelly said: "They are a remarkable group of young adults, and we are all really looking forward to the trek.

"Some of them have never been outside of the country before so for them it is an incredible chance to see a different culture and for many of them it will be a life-changing experience.

"It will be a super trip, we are all really looking forward to it, it will be challenging but it will also be the most rewarding thing we have ever done."

She added: "Every donation, no matter how large or small, makes a difference, so please sponsor us and help us make a difference."

To sponsor the FISSSC volunteers log on to http://www.justgiving.com/fisssctrek.