Young boy launching UK's 'most inclusive relay' in Glasgow

Glasgow Times

2 days ago

Eight-year-old Wolfe Gorton is the first child to pass the baton for Cerebra's 2,500km Relay Your Way event on June 3.
Cerebra, the UK charity dedicated to helping children with neurological conditions, designed the relay as a celebration of accessibility and inclusivity in sport.
Wolfe and his mum Emily Gorton (Image: Supplied)
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For 33 days, the baton will be carried across towns and cities, uniting thousands of participants.
This year, the event begins at Glasgow's Pinkston Watersports Centre, with Wolfe, who has cerebral palsy and Prader-Willi Syndrome, launching the relay.
His condition, a rare genetic syndrome, causes decreased muscle tone and some delayed milestones.
Sport has long been a huge part of Wolfe's life, with a fondness for swimming sparked by early pool experiences as part of a water babies group.
He also enjoys horse riding, having started hippotherapy at just 14 months old.
Wolfe enjoys horse riding (Image: Supplied) Emily Gorton, Wolfe's mum, said: "Seeing Wolfe take the lead as the first participant of Cerebra's Relay Your Way is really important for us as his parents.
"There needs to be a lot more awareness and thought put into how to make sport truly inclusive.
"Wolfe is really excited to go on what he will call a pirate boat because he's obsessed with them."
The baton, designed by the Cerebra Innovation Centre to be easily carried by wheelchair users, adapted surfers, and frame runners, will be passed between participants over 301 stages to the finish line at the Parallel Festival of Inclusivity in Windsor on July 6.
Dr Julie McElroy, a trailblazer for disability rights and accomplished sportswoman, will attend the start line of the relay and carry the baton for a distance to its first stop at Dunard Primary School.
She said: 'My relationship with sport began at an early age thanks to my parents' determination that I would have the same opportunities in life as my older brother and sister.
"Sport has helped me grow physically, mentally, and emotionally — a reminder of its power to heal, connect, and transform lives.
"That's why Relay Your Way is so powerful.
"It isn't just a relay, it's an action statement.
"It celebrates the 1.5 million young people in the UK with disabilities and reminds the world that every child deserves the chance to play, move, and thrive.
'Events like this don't just raise awareness; they create real opportunity.
"I'm living proof of what can happen when we believe in potential over limitation and I hope this relay empowers more young people to find their way into sport, just like I did.'
Jess Camburn-Rahmani, chief executive at Cerebra (Image: Supplied)
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Jess Camburn-Rahmani, chief executive at Cerebra, said: "Cerebra is incredibly proud to be celebrating the power of sport to bring people of all abilities together with Relay Your Way and lead this nationwide movement for inclusion and change.
'Participation in sport should be equally available to everyone, and this relay is a powerful statement that no child should ever feel left out.
"Whether you take part, cheer from the sidelines, or donate, you'll be helping to create a world where all young people are fully included, supported, and celebrated.
"We wish the best of luck to everyone taking part."
More information about the event can be found on the Relay Your Way website.