Tributes were paid to the founder of a charity that offers educational and therapeutic programmes to people with support needs on its 25th anniversary.

Donors, supporters, board members, past and present staff and participants gathered at Pier Six in Hamilton on Saturday evening to pay homage to WindReach.

At the event, Stewart Ritchie, the chairman of the charity, paid tribute to its founder, Alexander J. Mitchell, fondly called Sandy.

He said: “It was Sandy’s dream to create the fully accessible property in Warwick to cater for those with diverse support needs and provide them with meaningful therapeutic activity.

“Sandy had celebral palsy but refused to view it as a disability and his positive ‘of course we can’ attitude still permeates everything that we do at WindReach today.

“I know Sandy would be very proud of the contribution WindReach and its wonderful staff — past and present — have made to this community.”

He said the charity’s mandate is carried out from support it receives from donors and supporters.

Last Saturday’s event was sponsored by Fortitude Re and was supported by Everen, L&F Indemnity, EY as well as longstanding donors and volunteers Dudley and Debbie Cottingham and Kevin and Jennie-Lee O’Donnell.

WindReach, which opened its doors on October 1, 1999, offers programmes that include life skills, environmental education, therapeutic riding and an adult day programme.

• For more information about WindReach, e-mail windreach@windreach.bm