A CHARITY that gives disabled people in Keighley and across the district the chance to take part in sport and physical activities is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Bradford Disability Sports and Leisure (BDSL) has helped thousands of people since its inception as a small group based at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre in Odsal in 1985.

In the 30 years since then, BDSL’s membership has grown from about 40 to more than 500.

The charity runs various clubs and activities across the district every day of the week for disabled people.

Its members have taken part in regional, national, European and international competitions, with recent success achieved at the Special Olympics in Los Angeles when three powerlifters – Helen Burton and Keighley athletes James Crossley and Chris Woodhead – won 11 medals between them.

The charity will mark its 30th year with a celebratory dinner at the Dubrovnik Hotel in Manningham on October 16.

BDSL chairman, Hilary White, said: “I am delighted we are celebrating our 30th anniversary.

"Things have moved on tremendously in the past 30 years, from a small club at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre to multi-sports and hundreds of people taking part.

“Every competition we have been able to enter has been a great success. There have also been several receptions with Lord Mayors over the years to honour the athletes.”

She added: “I would like to thank all our volunteers, past and present. Without them, we would not have succeeded.

“I would also like to thank our funders, including Bradford Council, which has been very supportive, and Sovereign Health Care.”

Barry Thorne, who is in charge of fundraising for the charity, said the group was founded in 1985 by Myra Humpleby and Pauline Montgomery. They held exercise sessions at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre and started bringing disabled people along.

Their Monday sessions then expanded to include leisure activities on Wednesdays in Keighley, before a council grant of £29,000 in 1990 allowed BDSL to employ two officers and grow further.

A Lottery award of more than £100,000 in 2005 allowed BDSL to set up academies in Bradford and Keighley and further expand the organisation.

Sports and activities covered by BDSL include swimming, powerlifting, basketball and ten-pin bowling.

Mr Thorne, whose autistic son, Stephen, has used the service provided by BDSL, said: “In 1985, I helped with a grant from the leisure committee in Bradford of £500, and I have been involved since then.

“In 1990, I was chairman of the grants committee and we could see things were happening very fast, so they were given core funding to employ staff and to expand the service.

“In 1992, when I was Lord Mayor, we raised more than £100,000 towards disability sports and leisure. A few years later, I came on board to do a job helping with trips and things like that.

“Next year, I will have been here 20 years, involved as a supporter and a parent, as well as a member of staff.”

“We are now hoping to expand further,” added Mr Thorne. “We have just employed a new sports development officer, so we are working on developing things a bit more.”

Anyone who can provide prizes, auction lots and sponsorship for BDSL’s dinner next month can contact the charity on 01274 437093, or Mr Thorne on 07788 995914.