Who We Are
Kiera Roche on Bucks TV
History of LimbPower
LimbPower – The British Ambulant Disabled Sports and Arts website on Facebook was created in 2007. LimbPower.com, The British Ambulant Disabled Sports and Arts bespoke website was launched on 26th November 2007. In 2008 to ensure the continuation of the Amputee Games Kiera Roche, David Hilton, Catherine Booth and Robert Barrett set up the LimbPower – British Ambulant Disabled Sports and Arts Association. In 2009 we contacted the charities commission and LimbPower – The British Ambulant Disabled Sports and Arts Foundation, registered charity number 1132829 was launched on 20th November 2009. The Amputee Games were created to utilise sport to aid the physical, social and psychological rehabilitation of amputees and other ambulant disabled people, specifically to give primary (new) amputees an opportunity to experience a wide variety of sports, taught by specialist from the individual sports governing bodies and associations, with the additional benefit of meeting other amputees in a conducive environment, where they can share ideas and experiences with each other and more experienced amputees.
The inaugural Amputee Games took place on 13TH-14TH June 2008, with 81 Amputees participants. Teams of eight amputees and two healthcare professionals took part in 13 different sports both recreationally and competitively: providing them with a pathway to join the individual disability sporting associations after the games, where they could progress their skills.
The second Amputee Games was also held at Stoke Mandeville Stadium on, 22nd-23rd August 2009, with 75 amputees and ambulant disabled participating from all over the UK from as far apart as Northern Ireland to Blackpool and Plymouth to Stockport. By operating an open programme we encouraged amputees of all ages and all abilities to “Have-a-go” at a wide range of sports, giving them the best opportunity to find a sport, which suits their lifestyle and ability. As a direct result of the games a new sitting volleyball squad has been established in Portsmouth, three amputees took part in the BPA Talent ID day at Brunel University and a number of participants have signed up to join our amputee trek to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in October 2010.
The 2010 Amputee Games take place on the 14th-15th August at Stoke Mandeville Stadium.
The team
Robert Barrett
As a Below Knee Amputee, I have been involved in disabled sport now for over 20 years originally as an Athlete, then as a coach and again now I find myself involved as both an athlete and a manger. In terms of career, I was a sprinter originally and then moved into Pentathlon events after competing in Seoul. National and European Record holder in 100m, 200m, 400m, and Long Jump, in my time and National Champion in 100m, 200m, 400m, Long Jump, Shot Putt, Discus, etc. Not sure how many of those records still stand but I know they have stood the test of time for a long time now.
As national champion I was invited along with other athletes to represent GB in Seoul in 1988, were I managed to be involved in one of the greatest races ever seen for amputees, the final of the 100m. All 3 places Gold, Silver and Bronze broke the World Record at the time in a superb final event; I walked away with Bronze position with a new British Record and of course like the 1st and 2nd places broke the current World Record at the time. Same thing happened in the 200m, with the same 3 athletes taking Bronze, Silver and Gold.
In Barcelona in 1992, I represented GB, in Pentathlon, having taken 4th place at the World championships the previous year. However I tore a hip flexor in the first event (Long Jump) and this put paid to any chance I had of a medal. I decided to pursue my working career going back into Technology and infrastructure within the investment banking sector working full time for Morgan Stanley again who had been one of my main sponsors throughout my quest for Paralympics success
I continued to be involved in sport but mostly from a Rugby viewpoint, were I at one time was playing for 3 teams Old Walcoutians in Surrey, Morgan Stanley and Nomura banks all at the same time. Only once was my disability questioned by a referee before a match. I found new avenues and challenges in snowboarding, and helping new amputee boarders within the American Wounded Warrior programme in the USA in 2005 and 2006. 2006 saw our own British Limbless Ex Serviceman attend the event, which takes place in Breckenridge in Colorado every year.
In the past few years I have also re-entered the sporting arena here in the UK, helping to build both a local Sitting Volleyball Club (East London Lynx Sitting Volleyball Club), of which I am the manager, and a National GB Squad capable of vying for a medal in 2012, of which I am currently the Captain. Sitting Volleyball attracted me particularly because the award of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games to London has sparked a revival in this variation of the game of volleyball. Although played exclusively by disabled athletes at international and Paralympic levels, the game is a great leveller and men, women, able bodied and disabled can play together over the lower net seated on the ground. It is also a great sport for rehabilitation, and I wanted to be a part of helping to grow the sport here in London at grass roots level. I didn’t expect it to take over my life quite in the way it has.
This year has seen the GB Squad announce there arrival back on the Sitting Volleyball Scene by taking on the top teams in the world, when they entered into the September 2007 European Championships in Nyiregyhaza, Hungary. Picking up invaluable experience, the tough week of clashes proved successful in getting GB’s sitting squad on track for further development. The team finished in 12th position and also picked up ‘Best Blocker of the Tournament’ for Richard Whitehead’s performance, a fantastic individual achievement at their first European Championships. I was extremely proud to have led the team throughout the championships as Captain.
I’m privileged to be involved in sport for so long and to have met so many wonderful people and had so many fantastic experiences, I hope they will continue. The most profound thing for me is that if someone was to say if we could give you your life back the way it was before you lost your leg but you would lose everything you have experienced since then. I would have to say no thank you…
I am hoping that as a trustee of LimbPower I will be able to use my experiences to help new amputees engage in sport and who knows find some future Paralympic athletes.
Kiera Roche
As a teenage sport was my life, yet I come from a family heavily involved in the arts. My father is an artist, performance artist and actor. My younger brother has stared in movies, advertisement and pop videos and my younger sister is a dancer, actress and singer.
I was House Captain of Sport at secondary school. I studied Sports Studies, Psychology, Sociology and Art at ‘A’ Level, as I wanted to study Sports Science at Loughborough and follow in the footsteps of Sebastian Coe. During a 400-meter hurdle training session at Ealing and Southall Running Club when I was teenage I damaged my lower back and after a short stay in hospital I was told to give up running. While I gave up competitive athletics I continued to participate in sport focusing on team sports including Volleyball, Netball, Basketball and Ultimate Frisbee. I became captain of my University Basketball team, but struggled to find a club when I moved back to London. After my injury I changed direction and studied Social Psychology at University, leaving with a BA Honours Degree.
One of the skills I developed early on through being involved in sport was good organisation and I found myself pursuing a career, which involved organising national and International trade and consumer exhibitions. Whilst directing an exhibition in Paris in June 2001 I was involved in a catastrophic road traffic accident, which involved an 11-hour operation and the amputation of my right leg through the knee. Two operations later and I found myself as an above knee amputee, with serious damage to my right shoulder including six breaks. While undergoing rehabilitation at Queen Mary’s Hospital Roehampton I was invited to become a Trustee of the Limbless Association and I have never looked back.
I have dedicated the last 10-year’s of my life to supporting and encouraging amputees to rebuild their lives. Through my experiences I have learnt that the earlier an amputee receives support the better their prognosis. The most powerful experience for a new amputee is to see another amputee with a similar level of amputation and injuries complete tasks they thought they would not be able to do. In additional to the incredible support form healthcare professionals the key to good rehabilitation is the best prosthetics and the opportunity to pursue sports and arts in a conducive and supported environment among ones peers. This rebuilds self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth.
I believe in leading from example and since becoming an amputee I have walked the Great Wall of China, Cycled along the River Nile, Cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats, Cycled from London to Paris and Trekked in Cuba.
I feel privileged that I live in a country with such excellent prosthetic services; I do believe they could be better, but it’s a good start on the road to recovery. I am privileged that I have a supportive family and incredible friends, that I am good at communicating and incredibly persuasive, but mostly that I was born with a sunny disposition, which has enabled me to always look on the bright side of life. It is of vital importance to understand that many amputees are not privileged and find life incredibly difficult, if not impossible and this is where we come in. A small gesture of kindness and a push in the right direction can change a person’s life.
Catherine Booth
Cathy has been a Practice Manager and Company Director at a leading Financial Advisory firm in London since 2001. She has a BA Honours Degree in Business Studies from Leeds Metropolitan University and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel. Her previous experience is a background in Exhibitions and Event management and in the Recruitment Industry.
Cathy has dedicated much of the last eight years to taking part in and organising amputee sporting events and challenges both in the UK and abroad. She has cycled along the River Nile, a team member of the Lands End to John O’Groats Cycle Challenge, trekked the Great Wall of China, the foothills of the Himilayas in India and more recently a Cuba trek raising funds and awareness for amputee charities. Cathy has been instrumental in setting up LimbPower and in the planning and running of the Amputee Games. She is a key representative of LimbPower and it’s goals, beliefs and aspirations.
Damian MacDonald
Left below-knee amputee, left artificial hip, Born in Woolwich to Adrian & Twink (both in the Army). Lived in Hong Kong then Aldershot then Birkenhead. Moved to South Africa just before I turned 10. Involved in RTA when I was 16, resulted in amputation when I was 18. Returned to UK just before I turned 21. I work as an entertainer. Primarily in care homes with disabled adults as well as elderly mentally ill. I am married to Karen and have 3 children, Jacob, Scarlett and Morgan.
I become involved with LimbPower when I wanted to learn to cycle. I attended the Lingfield Park Cycle Ride. I then joined the team of amputees climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. I trained hard for this event and was delighted to summit this wonderful mountain. I have since joined the team for the London to Paris Cycle Ride and I will be leading the Cycle Ireland Bike Ride alongside Jim Bush in July. LimbPower has opened my eyes as to what can be achieved with hard work and planning and I want to sure this with you.
Sport/interests:. Cycling, Rowing, Singing, Reading
