Supporting Tanzanians with Disabilities at the Great Scottish Run

The AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, on Sunday 6 October, is set to be the biggest run weekend ever. Here, inspiring runners with a personal cause talk about their reasons for running as part of our Great Scottish Run ‘Power of Running’ series.

Emma’s Family Joins Forces to Support Tanzanians with Disabilities at the AJ Bell Great Scottish Half Marathon.

Emma Burtles, husband Dave and sons are all taking part among a squad of 16 fundraisers for charity Just Wheels. What makes their participation even more special is they’ll be taking turns pushing their 17-year-old son and brother Alfie in his wheelchair along the half marathon route.

Alfie, who has cerebral palsy, faces daily challenges, and Emma recognises the enormities this brings for others living with disabilities especially in places where there is little to no support.

Emma was inspired by working in Tanzania in the early 1990s, and in 2017 she set up Just Wheels to help reduce poverty and inequality for people with disabilities in the African nation. With a population of around 2.2 million, it’s a rural area where poverty is high and residents rely on agriculture for a livelihood.

The charity mainly works in the Tabora region of mid-western Tanzania providing high quality wheelchairs to those with mobility impairments and accessibility improvements.

“Having Alfie, I realised how absolutely vital a wheelchair is for being able to get around but also just to be able to access the stuff of life that’s taken for granted,” Emma said.

“Being able to get into school, a cafe or a shop, to see your granny or whatever it is, it’s almost impossible to imagine how important that is until you are in the position of being in a wheelchair or supporting somebody in a wheelchair.” Emma’s experience with Alfie helped provide direction.

Emma can’t wait to fly out to Tanzania for the first time since before the pandemic, but before that there’s the small matter of completing the Great Scottish Run through the streets of Glasgow on October 6.

With the weekend expected to sell out very soon, don’t miss out on being a part of Scotland’s Greatest. Glasgow, gaun yersel!, and click here to sign up today.