JACLYN’S SKATING ADVENTURE
Jaclyn Keir had a day to remember earlier this month as she took part in the inaugural Inclusive Skating Scottish and International Championships in Edinburgh, and met royalty.
Jaclyn, 21, from Uddingston, took to the ice at Murrayfield Ice Rink on Thursday, July 4, in Senior BHF Level 2, and afterwards met His Royal Highness Prince Edward, the Earl of Forfar, who was guest of honour at the event.
A spokesperson for Inclusive Skating (IS) said: “Skating has transformed the life of Jaclyn, who has cerebral palsy. Before joining Inclusive Skating (IS), she was extremely physically challenged and spent most of her time in a wheelchair.
“Due to her specific requirements, she was unable to find skates to fit, and European manufacturers were unwilling to make any for her.
“We eventually managed to get a firm in America to provide her with custom-fit skates, and five years on, Jaclyn regularly stands up on her own, and can now take steps out of her chair.
“Skating has given her huge improvements in self-confidence, and she has even become treasurer of her local IS club.
“Absolutely no skater was excluded from the championships, and skaters with wheelchairs or balance frames had the opportunity to take to the ice.
“Skaters with sensory, visual or extreme physical challenges such as autism, who are unable to compete in person, also had the opportunity to compete via prerecorded video.”
Around 50 skaters from as far away as Australia took part in a range of events, with judges scoring each one.
The skaters have challenges, such as cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis and other genetic, mental and behavioural impairments.
IS has pioneered these events, and the reintroduction of figures into ice skating in Great Britain, and for skaters with challenges across the globe.
They were removed from able-bodied competition in 1990, but figures are particularly soothing for skaters who like to practice in the quiet, and are popular with skaters who have autism or mental illness.
Inclusive Skating is a charity founded in September 2011 by former Scottish skating champion Margarita Sweeneybaird, who wanted to introduce people to the wonders of ice skating, no matter their life challenges.
The charity is open to all, but relies entirely on charitable donations and volunteer support.
It does not receive any public funding and donations go directly towards helping to transform the lives of its disabled ice skaters, their families and carers.
For more on the charity, visit inclusiveskating.org