Kayleigh’s our shining light
Disabled kids are being inspired to take up sport by World Para Athletics gold medalist
A young hero has been hailed for using her own incredible journey to inspire others.
World champion athlete Kayleigh Haggo runs a disability and inclusion project in Girvan.
The 21- year- old has cerebral palsy and established herself as a sporting star by scooping medals in swimming, club throw and race- running.
It’s the latter where the Maybole girl has really shone and last year she scooped gold at the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai.
When she’s not smashing world records, Kayleigh takes time out to inspire the stars of the future.
She’s been running her ‘ Inspire’ programme at the Girvan Community Sport Hub for nearly a year – and parents have been blown away by her commitment.
Thomas Picken, five, also suffers from cerebral palsy and the Girvan youngster is inspired by Kayleigh’s success.
His mum Pauline told the Post : “Kayleigh is wonderful. The project is well named because she is an inspiration to all those children.
“What that girl has achieved is just phenomenal – it inspires the children to take up sport and get where she has gone.
“To give these children with special operational needs an opportunity to take part is just fantastic.
“Thomas loves the running bikes. He is unable to stand or walk independently and he is partially sighted, but when he got on the bike he just seemed to take off.”
Race- running involves running with the support of a frame and allows aerobic exercise for individuals with severe motor and coordination impairments.
Thanks to the classes, Thomas has been able to build up the strength in his legs and Pauline recently saw her son walk by himelf for the first time.
“That was a special moment,” she said. “Before he attended the Inspire classes he was really struggling, so it was really emotional to see him walk. I had a tear in my eye.”
Another parent who has been stunned by the project is Ayr dad Mick Ure. Despite the 40- mile round trip, Mick takes his 11- year- old daughter Ellie to the Inspire Street Games class every week. Ellie has ADHD, complete deafness in her left ear, a global developmental delay, learning difficulties and has weak muscle tone on her left side.
The Inspire class is the highlight of her week and Mick said: “She can be quite inactive and really doesn’t have a lot that she can be involved in, so this gives her a sense of belonging. We don’t mind travelling all the way to Girvan because groups like this are very scarce.
“To see Ellie have so much fun with the other kids is so heartwarming and the coaches make the night absolutely brilliant for the kids.”
Little Ellie added: “I love going because the coach is so funny and all my friends are there.”
The project, which is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, ensures youngsters with additional support needs have a wide range of opportunities to allow them to take part in sport and physical activity.
Last year the team launched the multi - sport Inspire Street Games and they joined forces with The Quay Zone in Girvan to provide monthly sensory family fun pool sessions.
This year they have launched Inspire Athletics, Inspire Football and they are excited to announce that Inspire Dance is coming soon.
Kayleigh told the Post : “I’m very passionate about getting other young people with an additional support need into sport.
“It has changed my life and being able to provide children and young people with the same opportunities that I had is amazing.
“It’s been running for almost 11 months now and it’s been going really well.
“I honestly couldn’t ask for a better job in the world.”
The group are always looking for sponsors and Kayleigh added: “We would be very grateful for any local businesses who could support the project.”
The Inspire coaches have completed their disability sport inclusion training through Scottish Disability Sport.
The street games sessions are every Thursday 6.30- 7.30pm at Invergarven School, athletics is Mondays 5- 6pm at Girvan Academy, football is at Hamilton Park 4.30- 5.30pm on Tuesdays and the sensory swimming classes are the last Sunday of each month 4.30- 5.30pm at the Quay Zone.
Everyone is welcome and you can find more information and regular updates on the sessions on the Inspire Girvan and South Carrick Twitter and Facebook page.