Health

running to freedom

It all started with three passionate women – Sian Napper, Renee Jurgielan and physiotherapist Suzy Lock had a vision to give children with mobility challenges the freedom to move and play together. This has since developed into an not-for-profit charity called Frame Running Wollongong.

 

FRAME RUNNING WOLLONGONG IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR CHILDREN WITH A DISABILITY

Words Hayley Griffiths @hayleyg.creative Images Spencer Dungey @loveofmine.co

It all started with three passionate women – Sian Napper, Renee Jurgielan and physiotherapist Suzy Lock had a vision to give children with mobility challenges the freedom to move and play together. This has since developed into an not-for-profit charity called Frame Running Wollongong. Their mission is to enable preschool and primary school-aged children with a disability or impaired balance to participate in physical activity while enjoying social participation, inclusion and equal opportunity.

The journey began 18 months ago with the idea of introducing innovative ‘Frame Runners’ to the Illawarra. A Frame Runner is a three-wheeled mobility device (similar to a trike but with no pedals), which allows those who can’t stand, or struggle to walk, to independently move, and with some practice, run too.

>
It’s about inclusive sporting fun, playing games, making new friends and the freedom of movement, but most of all putting a smile on kids’ faces.
— Suzy Lock, Co-Founder

With support from the local community and a team of dedicated volunteers, the program has expanded to offer children the opportunity to experience the joy of movement, while also providing a valuable support network for parents and siblings. Founder and physiotherapist Suzy Lock explains that often she comes across parents of children with mobility issues who are frustrated with the lack of opportunity for their kids to be involved in physical activity.

“As a result, these kids can feel isolated from their peers at school or in the playground,” Suzy says.“However, Frame Running Wollongong has changed this for many children as they learn to move, work together and have fun building lifelong skills with their friends.”

Frame Running Wollongong recently became a funding recipient of the IMB Bank Community Foundation in 2022, which has enabled the organisation to expand their services and make a positive impact to the lives many more kids in the Wollongong region.“We are supporting 52 diverse grassroots projects that aim to build brighter futures for Australian communities,” the chief executive of IMB Bank, Robert Ryan, says.“Funding will provide a much-needed boost as they rebuild, recover and plan ahead after several challenging years.”

From the purchase of additional Frame Runners (costing $6000 each) and safety barriers, to further investment in volunteer training, the grant has been an invaluable contribution to help achieve the vision of the organisation.

Every week, a group of 15 or so children arrive at the University of Wollongong Sports Hub – a venue partner that operates the program – for an afternoon of games, team building and skill development with a volunteer assigned to each participant.

The program consists of one hour after school per week, where the kids experience a sporting activity – Frame Running with targeted goals, assessment, outcomes, and fun and inclusivity. And the fun is not just for these kids but their siblings, too.

The whole family is encouraged to come along, with a sibling program offered and afternoon tea shared together.

“It’s about inclusive sporting fun, playing games, making new friends and the freedom of movement, but most of all putting a smile on kids’ faces,” says Suzy.

>
We are supporting 52 diverse grassroots projects that aim to build brighter futures for Australian communities.
— Robert Ryan, imb bank

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, the Frame Running Wollongong team would love to hear from you. For more information visit framerunningwollongong.org.au

 

Upcoming Events

Advertise with us

Tags

More Health related articles:

Born and raised in Wombarra, Christian de Clouett, President of Scarborough Boardriders Club, celebrates a lifetime of surfing, community, and love for the ocean and escarpment that define Illawarra’s unique charm.
Meet Coledale author Rachael Mogan McIntosh
How do you find time as a couple when you have young children? We asked two families how they stay connected – with both little and bigger kids.
For Amy Cuneo and Bronwyn Pessey, meeting over coffee at Amy’s Woonona cafe All & Sundry was fortuitous for the mums to be. Over ten years later, with kids in tow, they still catch up for Monday night dinners.
Shantelle Thompson, Barkindji Warrior, Indigenous youth empowerment
Shantelle Thompson, the Barkindji Warrior, works to create opportunities for herself, her family and her community.
For David and Henry, age is just a number. But for these two centenarians, discovering a new friendship has been the key to enjoying a new chapter of life.
This unique business idea has recognised that the coming-of-age story for many people with a disability needs to be re-written, which is leading to stellar experiences for so many here in the Illawarra and beyond.
A cancer diagnosis comes with a list of essential treatments. Whilst they are necessary for survival, they can often lead to side effects which can have a long-lasting impact on your life.
A woman with short dark hair wearing an orange coat smiles at the camera, standing against a rustic dark background with her hands in her pockets.
An award-winning author, writing mentor and teacher, Helena uses kindness as the compass for her work and life and believes in the power of storytelling to process hard things and find the volume of your voice.
Meet Ruby D’Rozario from Thirroul, childhood cancer survivor and ambassador for Shine Like Charli
As lettering artist The Marker, Wollongong born and raised Gill Dinh has brought her creative vision to outdoor spaces for close to a decade. But now Gill is fulfilling a lifelong dream, stepping into the arena as a MasterChef contestant this season.

Jessica Clark of Earth Worthy Bags has founded a visionary enterprise and is on a mission to redefine the way we approach consumption, championing ethical practices and sustainability.

The first all-women's surf comp on the south coast is riding the huge wave of young women now joining the sport, marking the Sunday 5 May event at Woonona Beach as a milestone, decades in the making.

World-renowned stencil artist Luke Cornish, a.k.a. ELK, has found his home – and his peace – in the Illawarra. And now he’s bringing global acclaim to a local canvas.

To celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day, we meet six inspiring women of the Illawarra, who all bring something special to our region

Professional basketball coach and former player, Justin Tatum

Taking the helm mid-season may have been a leap for some, but Illawarra Hawks coach, Justin Tatum – and father of USA NBA superstar, Jayson Tatum – is taking it all in his stride.

Paul Smith’s lifelong passion for rugby league led him to create the annual Shellharbour Stingrays Masters Carnival bringing together ‘old blokes’ - aged over 35 - for a game of modified footy, fostering a sense of comradery and nostalgia

Now more than ever, local businesses need our support! Check out some great local traders to get behind

Let’s Be Friends

We’d love to send you occassional news and updates of happenings along the Coal Coast to your inbox!

Let’s be friends

We’d love to send updates of happenings along our Coal Coast to your inbox!

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Privacy(Required)