THE woman behind the new parallel sports club in Wincanton hopes to use her experience as an inspiration for disabled youngsters.

Amy Coombes, 23, recently returned from the trip of a lifetime after being a technical adviser in Boccia at the Paralympic Games.

The selfless volunteer has now set her sights on making the parallel sports club, to be launched at Wincanton Sports Ground next month, a hub for future Paralympians.

Miss Coombes became interested in disabled sports while studying sports education and coaching at the University of Gloucestershire.

It was there that she was first introduced to Boccia and after undertaking regional and national referees courses in the sport, she started working with Boccia England.

Her enthusiasm led her to be eventually fast-tracked to be a technical adviser at the Paralympics.

She said: “The people I have met through Boccia are a great bunch of people and the athletes all work hard to achieve their greatest potential, many with very severe disabilities.

“The camaraderie is fantastic and I consider it a privilege to be able to work with these outstanding athletes.

“I feel very honoured and privileged to have been part of Boccia at the Paralympics. The athletes were exceptional and all worked so hard to achieve their best.

“It is wonderful to see the determination they have to overcome their disabilities and to achieve their best. I would not have missed it for the world.”

via Hoping to use Paralympic experience as an inspiration | This is Somerset.