03/11/2026
For 2026, we're highlighting this year's theme, ‘Participation Changes Everything’, and the difference having the right equipment can make to taking part in activities that matter.
For Trudy, a medically retired RAF Senior Aircraftswoman, that means continuing her passion for sport through pickleball, with the help of her Wolturnus sports wheelchair from Recare.
Trudy says:
"The fact that I can play my favourite sport, pickleball, without needing to borrow leisure centre wheelchairs is game changing for my mental health. My Wolturnus sports wheelchair is outstanding."
Having always enjoyed sport, Trudy values not only the physical activity but also the sense of community and the joy it brings to her life.
"I first found pickleball when I attended a Help for Heroes sports event in summer 2024. If you like a sport, they encourage you to find where to play this in your local area. Trying something new tends to feel scary at first and the hardest part is reaching out and turning up the first time. What you might find is more than a sport. You might find people, confidence and a part of yourself you thought you’d lost."
Thank you to Trudy for sharing her experience.
Royal College of Occupational Therapists