Wheelchair Laser Tag: How marketing can build disability awareness

Developing greater empathy for people with physical and mental disabilities is a key to unlocking tremendous social value. Playing Wheelchair Laser Tag can’t replace other types of disability education, but it is a great place to start. It gives participants a taste of what it means to live in a wheelchair for a day and can bring about unexpected benefits to those who get involved.

Wheelchair Laser Tag is a small social enterprise that was created three years ago by Gary Byrne, a wheelchair user, who wanted to create a fun experience that could be shared by wheelchair users and non-wheelchair users alike.

Gary reached out to Pimp My Cause because he wanted to build the business by offering team building events for corporate groups. We connected him with Drew McMillian, director of culture and communications at Ladbrokes. Drew was able to provide Gary with a new perspective and has given him excellent advice on how to build a new programme designed for team building. Gary said, 'With Drew’s advice and guidance we have created a team building events programme which will involve many new wheelchair activities in addition to Wheelchair Laser Tag. He has also introduced us to experts in the corporate events market, which has already led to a booking for May.'

The newly named ‘Wheelchair Experience’ programme will include teams putting together their own wheelchair in a timed competition, learning new skills like wheelchair orienteering, wheelchair basketball and many other challenges. Teams can then finish the day by putting their new skills to use in a game of Wheelchair Laser Tag or Wheelchair paintball, with the day’s events being held at the old Browndown army base in Gosport, Hampshire.

Drew’s advice led to the need for a new website to promote The Wheelchair Experience and through Pimp My Cause Gary found Johnny Morris who offered to build their new website, which will be launched in the next couple of weeks.

Wheelchair Laser Tag is now looking for marketers who would like to help them reach a wider audience. With their new corporate events programme and website finished soon, they are looking for marketers who can help them find the right approach to building new relationships with event organizers and reaching new participant groups. Please email Anna Mullenneaux ([email protected]), chief match maker at Pimp My Cause, if you are interested in supporting Wheelchair Laser Tag with your marketing expertise.