A Bassingbourn woman with an intellectual disability has been selected for the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and needs to secure fundraising to ensure she can go out and compete.
Equestrian Lucy Warne has been riding since she was three to help with her balance, confidence and co-ordination. She won a dressage gold at the Special Olympics National Summer Games in Sheffield last year, and dreamed of being selected for the world games in Abu Dhabi.
Her mum Alison said: “When I heard the news last week, I was so excited for Lucy and immensely proud that she has made it all the way and will be representing Great Britain in the equestrian sport that she loves and is her whole life – the ultimate dream and goal has been reached!
“Lucy was at the livery yard with her horses when I found out, so I immediately jumped in my car to go and tell her the great news.
“She was lunging her young horse Eboney Rose and wondered why I had turned up at the yard as she wasn’t expecting me. I walked over to the menage to tell her that she had indeed been selected.
“She said she didn’t know don’t know whether to be excited or nervous!”
Alison is a full-time carer to Lucy, whose disability means she functions differently to others her own age – having the intellectual ability of a nine-year-old,
They lost Lucy’s dad Adrian to suicide in 2014 and have struggled financially so the 30-year-old could achieve her dreams.
Alison and Lucy hope they can secure the funds so she can get to Abu Dhabi and can train and compete in the run up to the international competition.
Alison said: “We hope to raise enough money to get Lucy to Abu Dhabi, kit her out in her dressage attire for her competitons, kit for the opening and closing ceremonies, and training over the next year with Team GB and her equestrian team.
“We also hope that we will raise enough money for me to go out to Abu Dhabi to watch her compete. We also need to raise the money to find someone to come and look after her horses while she is away.”
Alison has also applied for grants and awards and is waiting to hear if they have secured any funding towards their total.
To give to Lucy’s fund go to www.gofundme.com/sogb-equestrian-rider-wsgs-2019
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