A WHEELCHAIR basketball club has launched an emergency search for funding.

Bolton Bulls are hoping to raise £5,000 to help the charity pay for the annual running costs beyond the current 2018-19 basketball season.

Costs include weekly training sessions and competitive home matches requiring court hire, officials fees and other important strains on resources.

Steve Aston, Club Secretary at Bolton Bulls, said ”The club in its most basic form costs around £5,000 per annum to run. This figure doesn’t include any capital costs such as the purchase of basketball specific wheelchairs which cost in the region of £2-3,000. Given the lack of sponsorship available in the sport generally and more specifically in the lower divisions we’re heavily dependant on grants and the generosity of the public and local businesses.”

Kayli English, 17, has played for Bolton Bulls for 2 years and has recently represented the North West at the National Junior Championships.

Kayli said “Bolton Bulls is the club that first introduced me to wheelchair basketball at the ‘Sport On The Square’ event in Bolton and since joining the club in 2016 they have helped me develop my ability and knowledge of the sport, allowing me to become a more competent player.”

“The club have also introduced me to other pathways such as Junior League and regional skills camps which aid my progression. I aspire to further my skills within basketball and hopefully play wheelchair basketball at Paralympic level.”

Donate to the club at: www.justgiving.com/urgent-appeal-for-bolton-bulls.