Disabled sport in Caithness needs more support
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DISABLED people have just as much right as anyone else to realise their dreams.
That is the philosophy Caithness Disability Multi Sport (CDMS) have been living by for the last 11 years as they strive to help disabled athletes achieve their full potential.
However the limited number of coaches and lack of funding to pay for transport has meant talented performers have missed out on taking part in major events around the country.
But the group has been working hard to expand their coaching pool and increase their level of sponsorship so their members are able to travel to all the major events to prove they are among the best in Scotland.
Head coach Liz McLeod, who founded CDMS, admits the restrictions imposed on their operation has been very irritating.
“There was a boccia tournament in Stirling a few weeks ago and CDMS has five outstanding wheelchairs athletes,” she said.
“But I was only able to take one due to the room in my car
“It is frustrating because our athletes have come on so far in the last few years.
“One of our biggest problems is we don’t have the transportation to take more people to events.”
Ms McLeod (63) started up the county-wide group in 2004 after discussions with Inverness Harriers about bringing disabled athletes from Caithness to the city to take part in meets. Since then, she has been at the forefront of promoting disabled sport in Caithness and throughout the Highlands. Seeing what athletes are capable of despite their disability has pushed her on to help members reach their sporting potential .
“I got involved with sport mainly through my kids,” she said.“But when I started to work with disabled athletes, I realised they have as much right to have dreams and aspirations as anyone else.
“It all started from an open day at Thor House in Thurso and to begin with we had five athletes.
“But today we have around 30 who take part in sports such as athletics, boccia, bowling and swimming.”
With only three coaches at the club, finding new volunteers is proving a problem with CDMS, as most coaching
Ms McLeod holds coaching sessions in Thurso in an attempt to find new volunteers for the group.
But transportation is the biggest issue for the group .
This was highlighted by only two Caithness athletes David Gunn and Clive Mappin being able to take part in the Scottish Disability Championship in Perth where Gunn won gold in the 60 metres race and bronze in the shot put.
Claire Madden won a gold medal in boccia – a form of target bowls – at the 2013 Special Olympics in Bath.
Susan Cowie is a bowling champion, with Nicky Alderson and Innes Mahone both accomplished indoor bowlers.
Ms McLeod is to be the head coach of the Highland team for the 2017 Special Olympics in Sheffield where she hopes 12 athletes from Caithness will be part of the squad.
Despite receiving funding from Highland Council’s ward discretionary fund, CDMS largely have to raise their own funds to coach their athletes.
She hopes in future more sponsorship will come their way to provide transportation to get their athletes on the road to sporting glory.
“We need to find sponsorship of £10,000 for the team to travel to the Special Olympics in 2017,” she said.
“Transport is the biggest issue we face. There is so much talent in Caithness and it gives our athletes such a boost to compete against the best in the country.”
More information on CDMS can be found at caithnessdisabilitymulti-sport.org.uk
