BENEFICIARIES from the last Sport Relief are now repaying the favour, in spite of their own ongoing financial needs.

The Swindon Rockets Powerchair Football Club was started last August thanks to funding from Sport Relief to allow wheelchair bound adults to play the beautiful game.

And the group has never looked back.

Now it is holding a football themed challenge on Saturday, March 15.

Martin Kelly, chairman of the Swindon Rockets Powerchair Football Club, said: "Without support from them there would be no Swindon Rockets.

"The players wanted to show their gratitude to Sport Relief by giving something back."

The Powerchair Football Club was launched last August and is proving popular with the players, two of whom are Swindon Town season ticket holders.

Sport Relief funded the initial taster sessions to gauge the level of interest. This led to the club being formally set up.

Mr Kelly said: "We have been given a chance to build something and the club feels pleased to give the opportunity to others."

Players, coaches and volunteers will all be taking part in the wheelchair challenge, which involves controlling a giant ball through sets of cones.

This means there will be a mixture of wheelchair users and first-timers involved.

The members plan to complete a mile and hope to raise £1,000 for Sport Relief.

The PFC is affiliated to Swindon Living Options, the local unit of the charity Scope.

This organisation aims to make disabled people in Swindon full and equal citizens and to live a more independent lifestyle.

Mr Kelly said of the club: "It is a chance to take part in a team sport that ordinarily would not be available."

The club hopes to raise more money later in the year to pay for the equipment it needs to progress to playing in the Wheelchair Football Association league.

The event is being held between noon and 3pm so that no-one will miss Swindon's match at the County Ground against Carlisle.

To make a donation call Mr Kelly on 07870 643734 or visit www.mysportrelief.com/swindonrockets.

The Rockets have high hopes are being better off after Swindon Town's game against Leeds tomorrow.

The Rotary Club of Swindon has promised to help the Swindon Rockets kickstart their fundraising appeal - they need to raise around £48,000 to pay for the correct wheelchairs to allow them to compete in a national league - with a collection at the game.