Paralympian archer to work with Rudheath youngsters (From Northwich Guardian)

Paralympian archer to work with Rudheath youngsters

5:00pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in News By Beth Allcock

AN INSPIRATIONAL Paralympian archer who was told by doctors she would never shoot again has shared her story of success with youngsters in Rudheath.

Beijing Bronze medallist and 17-times World Record holder Mel Clarke left her bow and arrows at home to chat to students at The University of Chester Academy Northwich (UCAN), formerly Rudheath Community High School.

The 29-year-old, who has been appointed as the Sky Sports Living for Sport mentor for the Shipbrook Road secondary school, explained how hard work saw her become the first disabled athlete in Europe to represent Great Britain in an able-bodied team, in 2003.

And Mel said her dogged determination to overturn a grim prediction that she would never enjoy archery again, after she was diagnosed with Lyme disease which left her paralysed from the waist down and blind in one eye, that resulted in her winning the World Championships two years later.

“After being told you’re no good, you can’t see, you can’t shoot, in two years I was the best in the world,” said Mel.

“I’m not saying it was easy, there were tears and sleepless night, but I got there.

“Even when it’s raining or snowing and when I don’t want to get out of bed, I know if I work and I believe these dreams are achievable.”

She said that her motto of ‘dream, believe, work and achieve’ had driven her 15 years in the sport, and added: “When I started archery, I was one of those people who wasn’t any good at all - it took me many goes to hit the target.

“My coach used to put a Mars bar on the target and when I started hitting it, he said that I was OK at this.

“I have now got selections for London 2012 and I have got to be positive about that.”

Mel, a former teacher who now spends all her time training, will work closely with students in Years Seven to 10 as part of their Level Booster course, to improve their confidence and fitness through a range of activities.

Richard Russell, PE teacher and school sports coordinator, said having the support of Mel was a great benefit to the school.

He added: “It raises the whole profile and gives the kids who are in the sport group a bit of publicity.

“It also raises awareness of what they are doing - they are working on less traditional sports like dodgeball and ultimate frisbee, sports like that, because quite a lot of the kids were turned off sport because they weren’t good at football, and this offers something different.”

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