FOUR plucky youngsters – who all have cerebral palsy – are taking part in a national athletics championship.The youngsters, who all attend Ipswich's Thomas Wolsey School in Old Norwich Road, successfully came through the qualifying round held in Cambridge recently.
FOUR plucky youngsters – who all have cerebral palsy – are taking part in a national athletics championship.
The youngsters, who all attend Ipswich's Thomas Wolsey School in Old Norwich Road, successfully came through the qualifying round held in Cambridge recently.
They are now looking forward to representing the eastern region at the Disability Sport England National Athletics Championships.
The youngsters will all be heading to Blackpool for the competition next month.
Alice Carter, 12, will be taking competing in the javelin and discus events; Callum Pearson, 14, will be running the 100m and 200m races; Jamie Truby, 14, will be competing in the 100m and javelin events and 11-year-old Charley Anne Gowing Clarke will be running the 100m and 200m races.
Cathy Churchyard, physical education co-ordinator at the school, which caters for children with severe physical disabilities, was over the moon.
She said: "It is a superb achievement. It is not that frequent that we get a group of children there as they have got to reach the standard required.
"Jamie has been walking 6ft off the ground and Callum gave me a big hug when I told him.
"They are all so chuffed – and Callum's ambition is to take part in the Paralympics.
"I am feeling very excited. I am going to Blackpool with them and I sure they will get on fine.
"They will also get to meet other children from the eastern region and they will cheer each other on. They will make friends, which is really good."
Matthew Brakenbury, assistant headteacher at Thomas Wolsey School, said: "It is good to have this sort of opportunity, which you have at mainstream schools."
What do you think about the youngsters' achievement? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or visit the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk
Do you have any good news you want to share – or problems you have experienced – in the north west Ipswich area? Contact Meyrem Hussein on 01473 324792 or e-mail meyrem.hussein@eveningstar.co.uk
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