Amy wins chance to be a real superhero

Not everyone gets the chance to be a superhero but Poulton teenager Amy Banks will be giving it a go this Saturday.
Amy Banks from Poulton has won the opportunity to take part in the Superhero Series with Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock.Amy Banks from Poulton has won the opportunity to take part in the Superhero Series with Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock.
Amy Banks from Poulton has won the opportunity to take part in the Superhero Series with Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock.

Amy, 18, of Raybourne Avenue, has won the opportunity to take part in the Superhero Series with Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock.

The Superhero Series is billed as the UK’s only sports series dedicated to everyday superheroes, the nation’s 12.9m people with disabilities and long term illness.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Created by Paralympian Sophia Warner, the event invites people with all kinds of disabilities to fly solo or unite with family and friends to take on unique triathlon challenges.

Amy was picked from a nationwide social media competition run by utility firm Npower, in which entrants were asked to describe on Facebook why they would like to team up with Jonnie.

She has been chosen to participate in the swimming leg of the triathlon in the event at Dorney Lake, Windsor.

She qualified because she has to live with the condition dystonia, a neurological movement disorder which causes uncontrollable and often painful muscle spasms due to incorrect signals from the brain.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Amy said: “My symptoms fluctuate so each day is different – one day I can look almost normal aside from the crutches, the next I could be in hospital unable to lift my leg up off the bed.

“When I started taking part in parasport things completely changed, I felt normal for the first time in months.

“This is why this opportunity means the world to me.”

I am so excited to meet Jonnie and compete alongside him.”

Related topics: