Amy's Paralympic journey.

I need your help!

My name is Amy Clegg. Almost 18 years ago, I was given a very slender chance of survival. I was born 11-weeks premature, weighing less than a bag of sugar, and comfortably fitting in the palm of my mother’s hand; the doctors had very little hope as I continuously stopped breathing, but I made it through and out of intensive care into the big wide world! Yet this wasn’t the last obstacle I would face, over the next 6 months I continued to stop breathing at times and my parents had to resuscitate me on several occasions. I showed my early determination to overcome hurdles and battled my way off oxygen therapy. I had made it through.

At 1 year-old I was diagnosed as profoundly deaf, seriously effecting the way I communicated with the world. My parents were told that learning to talk would be long and difficult. I would struggle to understand my family and have conversations with friends, but again I made it through and I think at times, my family probably wish I would talk a bit less now!

At 18-months-old I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, effecting all muscles in my body, particularly my right side. My parents were told that I would likely never walk, and that any physical activity would be almost impossible. I was nearly 3 before I could sit independently but I persisted and got through to being able to sit with my friends. I started school still needing a support aid to walk so I was discouraged from joining in any sports, for fear of injury or embarrassment, yet I was desperate to join in everything. Despite the discouragement I made it through! I did every sport I could outside of school, from dancing to trampolining, swimming and wheelchair tennis...but then I found my favourite of them all...skiing. My secondary school planned a ski trip abroad, and I was incredibly excited to go. I was begging my parents to sign me up, and they were willing to let me follow this dream. Yet then, they were presented with the fact that due to financial implications the school were unable to make this trip accessible to those with disabilities. I was heartbroken. Yet again I had been told that I could not do something that my heart was set on. I was not going to let that happen. My parents lovingly went in search of a way and found DSUK, a UK charity helping those with disabilities get in to Snowsports, and they helped me get on the slopes! I have not looked back since! I was told that I would never walk. So instead, I race down a slippery slope, with two bits of wood strapped to my feet! I have trained non-stop now for almost 5 years, and in 2022 I made the GB development team for Para Alpine. The dream of a lifetime! Inspired by some of my heroes, like Menna Fitzpatrick, I long to stand on top of the podium at the Winter Paralympics, representing Great Britain! I will make it happen!

This is where I need your help, with any sport and any dream, there comes the obstacles. The pitfalls and disappointments; the struggles, and ultimately, the finances. Although amazing strides have been made in the recognition of para-sport since the incredible Paralympics in London in 2012, the funding for grassroots para-athletes is still sadly scarce and hard to come by. I have been given the incredible chance to extend my training and enhance my performance with a 6-month long highly specialised para-training programme in Canada, that has been negotiated for me by GB Snowsport. Unfortunately, fantastic opportunities like these often come with a large price tag. I am as desperate to take advantage of this opportunity as I am to represent GB in the Paralympics, and I believe the two to be intrinsically linked.

I need to raise £15,000 to be able to take up this opportunity to cover the coaching and transport fees, and therefore I would be eternally grateful for any contributions that you are able to make towards this. Whilst I don’t expect to exceed this staggering amount I would like to reassure everyone that any contributions made will only be used for my future training and hopefully see me sporting a medal for GB soon. With your help we can make this happen! Thank you so much for your support.

Amy xx