New wheelchair for Worthing Paralympian hopeful

Aspiring Paralympian Lizzie Williams was presented with a new racing wheelchair at a fundraising event in Worthing on Friday.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st May 2016, 15:07 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:38 BST

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Lizzie Williams in her new wheelchairLizzie Williams in her new wheelchair
Lizzie Williams in her new wheelchair

The 20-year-old, who lives in Worthing, is hoping to get into the 2016 Paralympics in Rio this summer.

She was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, otherwise known as brittle bone disease, but is a natural athlete and become number three in the country in T54 wheelchair racing after only one year of training.

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She is currently just two seconds shy of the qualifying time for Team GB but the new chair should help Lizzie to shave off those seconds, with the aim of being number one. It is a bespoke chair, moulded to her body, and replaces a borrowed wheelchair.

It was presented to Lizzie at the charity dinner at Worthing Pier’s Southern Pavilion.

Mike Jones, from Michael Jones Estate Agents, who donated £2,000, said: “It was a remarkable effort by the people of Worthing, who really showed their support to cheer on Lizzie in her pursuit of getting to the Paralympics in Rio.

“It’s been a great year for her so far and we’re all so eager to see how well she’ll do. She’s an inspiration.”

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Lizzie is known for her amicable approach to competition, always racing to beat her personal best rather than purely challenging her competitors.

Bright and ambitious, she was overjoyed to receive her new wheelchair and looks forward to trying it out on the track this week.

Time trials for the Paralympics have just begun.

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