Anne Wafula Strike

Harlow's Olympic Connection

PRESS RELEASE

With just over four years to go to the London 2012 Olympics the Canal Boat Project is working with a Harlow paralympian, Anne Wafula Strike, to make the most of the opportunities the games will bring to our area. They hope, by working together, they will be able to develop the use of the waterways for local and national disadvantaged and disabled groups to enjoy.

As part of the Olympic Games the Lee Valley is to have multi-million pound improvements to make the waterway even more attractive and accessible for all types of boating activities. The Canal Boat Project is a well-established Harlow based charity who offer canal boat day-trips, short breaks and holidays to families and individuals with physical mental and sensory impairments and difficulties as well as to community groups. It hopes to open up these proposed additional leisure facilities to these target groups. The Project over the past few years has expanded its fleet of accessible canal boats and is in the perfect position to take full advantage of these proposals. It hopes by the partnership with Anne to spread the word about the pleasure, enjoyment and therapeutic effects all people can gain from a canal boat trip.

The Paralympics is held every four years, with a similar range of events as its bigger partner, and has become an integral part of this major international sporting event. It follows the traditional Olympic events with Team Great Britain being highly successful in recent years gaining 94 medals, 35 gold, ahead of the USA, Australia, Germany and France and only bettered by China in Athens 2004. Anne Strike, qualified for these games and was the first wheelchair racer from East Africa to do so and was awarded a special gold medal in recognition of her achievement. Anne, now a Harlow resident, races for the Harlow Running Club.

Anne was also the first Goodwill Ambassador for the international development charity Action on Disability and Development (ADD) and now races for Great Britain after moving to Essex to bring up her family. She hopes to qualify for the 2008 Paralympics but unlike Olympic athletes has to fund her own training. If you would like to know more about Anne and her work with ADD visit her web site at www.annestrike.com where you can also leave a message of support in her guest book.

You can learn more about A.D.D. by visiting their website at http://www.add.org.uk.

Anne was asked by the Canal Boat Project in July 2007 to launch their new purpose built, accessible canal boat and was so delighted with her canal boat trip she agreed to become the patron of the charity. Anne says:

" I am very proud to be Patron of the Harlow Canal Boat Project, especially because it enables disabled people of all ages to access our beautiful canal network".

The Canal Boat Project offers the chance for people with disabilities to be able to take a full part in the steering and operation of the boats with remote control systems. They also offer a full skippered option using fully qualified volunteer crew. For more information about the Project visit their web site at http://www.canalboat.org.uk or phone 01279 424444.


Registered Charity 1108452