facebook.com/inspirefreedom

Ade Adepitan MBE is a British television presenter and wheelchair basketball player. He uses a wheelchair as a result of contracting polio as a child which led to the loss of use of his left leg. Freedom in the Air (FITA) founder and co-chairman who also battled polio first met Ade during a wheelchair basketball training session with the Raiders team in West London. Both men have a deep understanding of how important voluntary organisations are in the world today.

FITA had the pleasure of giving Ade his first flying lesson just before the London 2012 Paralympic games started. 2012 sees Ade spearheading all things Olympic / Paralympic. Ade is Read more →

BBC 3 counties radio came to see how our Freedom Wings days are run. Freedom Wings days introduce disadvantaged or people with disabilities to general aviation and the wonders of flight. Freedom Wings days introduce disadvantaged or people with disabilities to general aviation and the wonders of flight.

Thank you to 3 counties radio for your support.

From our recent Freedom Wings days event with Friends of Bright Eyes published in Luton News August 8th 2011. Click on the image to read the full transcript.

Disabled flying school Freedom in the Air (FITA) with support from Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation has invited 20 people aged between nine and 19 to learn how to pilot a plane. The young people all have some form of disability and are cared for by Friends of Bright Eyes (FOBE), a Luton based charity focusing on the needs of children with disabilities from the Muslim Community.

Within Britain there are over 6 million full time carers, but the work of this forgotten army goes unpaid. Yasmin has been dedicated to gifting many lives with unconditional love and support. Looking after her stepdaughter who suffers from muscular dystrophy took up a lot of time and energy, but Yasmin’s support and commitment to care for those less fortunate did not stop there. In search for other children who have disabilities, with a vision to set up a centre which provides respite care. Yasmin launched Friends of Bright Eyes as a voluntary charity. With minimal funds it was very difficult to keep the charity operating. A wife, mother and full time carer, Yasmin never looked back, always went that extra mile to help and 14 years later the charity which Yasmin started at home, now accommodates for over 50 children a week.

The hugely popular Freedom Wings days are designed to give youngsters with disabilities what is very often their first experience of flight in a light aircraft. Just to see the expressions on the children’s faces is evidence enough of the enjoyment and satisfaction they get from this new experience and their pleasure also guarantees a happy day for the whole family. We try, when possible, to ensure that brothers and sisters and parents get the opportunity to fly together at these events when their involvement is instrumental in siblings also having this exciting opportunity, Freedom is definitely “key”.

Freedom Wings hosted at Cranfield Airport EGTC July 2011. Freedom in the Air is a flying school for disabled people. We have hand controls for those with lower limb disabilities. Cranfield aiport is located in central England, UK, within easy reach of London and the North of England.

Courtesy of ITV Anglia