Sam has always been sporty and loved to dance but found opportunities limited at local dance schools because of her disability.
Sam has Cerebral Palsy but through motivation, desire, physical training and InstructAbility – a scheme run by the charity Aspire which trains disabled people to be gym instructors – she is now a successful Clubbercise trainer and their disability specialist.
How about Adam. Adam, who has a learning disability, realised that not being active had a negative impact on his emotions.
After getting involved with his local Mencap group in 2013, Adam is now one of 500 people taking part in Mencap Sport’s national Round the World Challenge.
Sam and Adam’s stories are just two of many tales English Federation of Disability Sports (EFDS) is telling through the Together We Will campaign.
The nationwide initiative shares first-hand experiences from people with different impairments or health conditions about why being active is important to them.
It aims to encourage and support disabled people, along with their friends and families, to become more active and to enjoy the mental, physical and social benefits of getting involved in sport and activity.
Campaign support
The campaign is supported by actor, Will Mellor, whose sister had Marfan’s Syndrome. Mellor was in Birmingham yesterday visiting Villa Rockets Powerchair Football Club.
Around 200,000 people have an impairment or long-term health condition in England’s second largest city, with only 13.5% of disabled people reportedly taking part in sport or physical activity for the recommended 30 minutes per week.