Shelly Woods – International Wheelchair Athlete
Shelly, a local girl, was
disabled in 1997 at the age of 11 years as the result of a spinal cord injury
after falling from a tree whilst playing near home. Permanent paralysis below
the waist was the tragic result
Since then she has developed
into a world class athlete, competing in wheelchair races all over the world
involving distances varying from short and medium term to full scale marathons.
Displaying extraordinary
levels of courage and determination matched only by an incredible will to win,
2007 saw her winning the Los Angeles, London and Swiss Marathons and set new
British records at distances of 800,1500 and 5000 metres. She again won The
Great North Run half-marathon and came second in the New York Marathon.
She is employed on a part-time
basis as a Sports Development Officer by Blackpool Council in schools and
athletics clubs, and she has identified two local wheelchair athletes capable,
she believes, of attaining paralympic standards at the London Games in 2012
2008 will see Shelly competing
in several events in Australia, the London Marathon in April, followed by
events in Switzerland, then 10000m races in New York and Atlanta, Georgia. Then
will begin the lead up to her goal of competing as a member of the British
squad at the Paralympic Meeting immediately following the Olympics in Beijing.
Whilst Shelly does have
sponsorships, they are insufficient to cover all the expenses associated with
her programme of competitive events for this year, and to make sure she is able
to represent her country as one of, if not the world’s leading wheelchair
athlete. Further financial sponsorship will be necessary to get her through to
Beijing.
Lytham St. Annes Lions Club
have long been admirers of Shelly’s courage and achievements and are organising
a fund-raising dinner on Saturday May 3rd. at Fylde Rugby
Club to make sure she will be in Beijing at the Games. The Lions Club will
match all monies raised at the event up to a maximum of £3000 and any surplus
above Shelly’s needs will be donated to the training of local amateur
wheelchair athletes
Shelly’s achievements have
been widely recognised.
She was BBC North West
Disabled Sports Personality of the Year 2005, Red Rose Lancashire Sports Person
of the Year 2006 and in the same year won the Wheelpower Individual Achievement
Award (an internationally recognised acknowledgment of her successes).
Dinner Information Order/Appeal
Form
‘WE’RE ALL WHEELING FOR SHELLY’
Further information: Colin Holt, Lytham St Annes Lions
Club. Tel. 01253 734550 Email