PARALYMPIC fever was in the air at Navigation Primary School as two Rio medallists called in.

Para-cyclists Neil Fachie and Lora Turnham joined coaches from Sale Sharks new inclusive rugby programme ‘In the Pack’ to treat the youngsters to a special day of disability sport.

Just days after they had taken part in the homecoming parade in Manchester and a reception at Buckingham Palace, Neil and Lora showed off their medals to more than 300 excited children at the Altrincham school.

Neil picked up a silver in the tandem B 1km time trial in the Rio games while fiancée Lora went one better, winning gold in the women’s B 3000m individual pursuit and a bronze medal in the time trial.

Then it was time for the youngsters to have a go at a Paralympic sport themselves as the Sharks’ award winning Community Trust coaches gave 128 of them an action-packed introduction to wheelchair rugby.

Navigation deputy head Mark Harrison, who organised the special event, held on October 19, to give the pupils an introduction to disability sport, said: “It was fantastic to have Neil and Lora and the team from Sale Sharks at the school.

“We can tell the children all about the Paralympics and disability sport but to be able to see the medals and have a go at a sport themselves really brings it to life. We’re committed to making sport as inclusive as possible and this was a brilliant way to get that message across."

Vicky Irwin, inclusion officer at Sale Sharks, said: “In the Pack is all about trying to create as many opportunities as possible for anyone to play rugby. We want to show that wheelchair rugby isn’t just for people with disabilities.

“We were delighted to be able to support a local school with such a fantastic event. Now we’re looking to expand the programme across the north west so we want to encourage any schools who would like to get involved to get in touch.”

The Sale Sharks Community Trust’s coaches will take the inclusive ‘In the Pack’ programme to more than 15 schools and community centres across the north west over the coming months.

To register an interest, contact Vicky Irwin at vicky.irwin@salesharks.com.

For more information on Sale Sharks Community Trust programmes, visit www.salesharks.com/community.