Newham-born Paralympian and TV presenter, Ade Adepitan MBE, will join special needs pupils from Stratford’s JFK School at an exclusive Christmas party and present opening on Friday 9 December. The former Paralympic wheelchair basketball bronze medallist and BT Ambassador will also unveil a new BT and The Lord's Taverners-funded sensory room and hydrotherapy pool at the East London School.

Standing in the shadow of the Olympic Park, JFK School – the only school in the London Borough of Newham that caters for young people with profound physical disabilities – has been given fresh hope for the future after years of witnessing funds being poured elsewhere into the local area. 

The Stratford school now has its own legacy programme in place thanks to BT and The Lord’s Taverners, who are instigating a £200,000 overhaul that will restore JFK School to the beacon of hope originally opened in 1964 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of iconic US President, John F. Kennedy. 

Additional funding is in place to install a soft play area, sensory garden and wheelchair-accessible playground at the school, while leading disability sports charity The Lord’s Taverners will deliver one of its specially-adapted minibuses next year, enabling the pupils to get out and enjoy the incredible atmosphere the 2012 Games will bring to London.

Ade Adepitan, whose sister attended JFK School, said: “Every time I visit friends and family in Stratford I'm thrilled to see the impact the London 2012 Games is having on my home Borough. As a BT Ambassador and someone who grew up in East London I'm really proud to be involved in supporting the regeneration of the JFK School. Thanks to BT and the Lord's Taverners, the children will benefit from the installation of fantastic new sensory equipment, and all just a stone's throw from the Olympic Park itself. It’s been great to meet the pupils first-hand and to play the role of Santa for the day!"

The partnership is inspired by BT’s continued support of education and sporting initiatives through its London 2012 programme. In addition to installing sensory rooms, BT staff members will volunteer at The Lord’s Taverners youth sports events and fundraise for the charity.