Mascot Ronnie the Rhino led the charge at a sporty celebration of the International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD).
The special event at Headingley Carnegie Stadium also gave visitors the chance to see the Challenge Cup and take a tour of the Yorkshire County Cricket Museum.
As well as celebrating IDPwD, the sport-themed event was also aimed at recognising the positive impact that exercise and sport can have for people with a disability.
The event was organised by staff at Leeds City Council’s Osmondthorpe Hub.
The centre has been supporting the victims of serious illnesses or accidents for almost 25 years and works with around 120 adults with a broad spectrum of physical or sensory impairments.
Staff at the hub also support those attending to get involved in other opportunities outside the centre and organised the event in a bid to get people who use the service out into an exciting new setting.
Councillor Adam Ogilvie, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, who attended the event at Headingley, said:
“This was the perfect venue to celebrate such an important day.
“To host this event at one of the city’s most iconic sports grounds gave the event a real sense of occasion and was also an excellent way to emphasise how important it is that people with disabilities have the opportunity to take part in sports and physical activity.
“There was a real buzz at Headingley and I think everyone appreciated what a positive example this was of how well different agencies in Leeds work to make sure people with disabilities don’t have to sit on the sidelines.”
Bob Bowman, Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s director of operations, added:
“It was such a pleasure to be a part of this event and the Leeds Rhinos Foundation is keen to work very proactively with the members of our community that have some form of disability.
“We already work in partnership with the South Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre, the wheelchair rugby team, and others but we feel we have a lot more to offer and would welcome any future partnerships and initiatives. It was a great day and the first of many more such events held at this great stadium.”
International Day of People with Disabilities is supported by the United Nations and is aimed at celebrating people with disabilities while raising awareness of the barriers many of them still face.
