Kayaking, mountain biking, trekking and abseiling are the order of the day this weekend at Ghajn Tuffieha.

Participants though include people with various levels of physical abilities and disabilities including Spina Bifida, Polio, Hearing Loss and Lower Limb Amputation – for this is Ability Challenge Weekend.

The Ability Challenge is normally a week long event which takes place in a foreign location each summer, however, Inspire’s Ability Challenge organiser Elaine Fenech said: “This spring, in anticipation of the big summer event, we wanted to organise a shorter, taster event, to increase awareness about what this challenge involves, and maybe to tempt more and more participants to take part.”

The aim is to increase the public’s awareness on this annual event and how inclusion of abilities can be mixed up into different sporting activities.

Ms Fenech said that participants from every walk of life are taking part in the challenge including, soldiers, engineers, bank employees, students, technicians, housewives and business entrepreneurs.

“Each applicant is committed to raise funds to cover the participation costs and sponsorship to make the event possible,” she said. Mixed ability participants, are always accompanied by professional guides and Inspire’s sports’ staff ensures safety for all participants and that each activity is adapted and accessible to participants with a disability.

Winston Pirotta, one of the participants said: “It’s a unique experience physically and psychologically. It breaks that barrier that we tend to build around people with disabilities.”

The event, sponsored by The Bowline Shop, Qormi and Maypole Bakery, Qormi. Inspire will be organising the sixth Ability Challenge at the end of August .