Golf Club Gives $1,000 to Put Kids in Beach Wheelchairs

When Tom McGinlay retired as secretary of North Berwick's Glen Golf Club, he had a choice about what to do with his retirement collection. He gave it all to help children with disabilities experience the beach.

McGinlay donated his entire retirement fund to Beach Wheelchairs, a charity that provides specially adapted wheelchairs designed to roll smoothly across sand. The Glen Golf Club loved the idea so much they topped up his donation to reach $1,000.

The money will buy a brand new beach wheelchair sized and designed specifically for children. These aren't ordinary wheelchairs—they feature wide, balloon-like tires that glide over sand instead of sinking, giving kids with mobility challenges the freedom to play at the beach just like anyone else.

Beach Wheelchairs serves communities across East Lothian, offering both manual and powered beach wheelchairs completely free of charge. Families can reserve them with a simple phone call or email, removing both physical and financial barriers to coastal access.

The Ripple Effect

This single act of generosity will touch countless families in the years ahead. Each child who uses this wheelchair gets more than a beach visit—they get the dignity of independence, the joy of feeling sand and surf, and memories that last a lifetime.

For parents of children with mobility needs, adaptive equipment like this transforms what might feel impossible into a regular family outing. One wheelchair becomes a gateway to inclusion, belonging, and the simple pleasure of a day by the water.

The donation reflects a growing recognition that accessibility isn't a luxury—it's a right. When communities invest in adaptive equipment, they send a powerful message that everyone deserves access to nature, recreation, and public spaces.

One retirement gift will keep on giving, one beach day at a time.