JustBeingCP

Riding into the Queen’s Lawn at Hereford’s Royal National College for the Blind as a 16 year old is a moment I will never forget. On the 25th of August 2012 I carried the Paralympic flame into the county on horseback.

Nominations were sought just months earlier by Herefordshire Council who were looking for someone from the county to represent us and bring our part of the flame home.

As you may remember Herefordshire was chosen as one of 33 counties from around the country to host what was dubbed as a Paralympic flame party by the games organisers.

After being inspired by Zara Phillips carrying the olympic torch into Cheltenham racecourse on her horse Toytown I decided to see if it would be possible to do the same with the help of Herefordshire RDA and my coach, much to my delight it was possible.

In the years since I stopped riding and have become a disability activist, working with Herefordshire Council and West Midlands Trains to improve the accessibility of the pavement and rail networks across the Midlands for those with mobility issues and other disabilities.

At the time of writing this four locations in Herefordshire have pavements that are completely accessible to all thanks to new dropped curbs, with 10 railway stations that are managed by West Midlands Trains seeing the introduction of waiting spaces and other types of signage on the platforms.

I still believe that our (the disabled) community shouldn’t be forced in 2025 to fight for our rights and get things like dropped curbs and waiting spaces on platforms at railway stations, the improvement of these things should come and second nature to the organisations delivering these services.

Going back to today’s anniversary I have fond memories of getting onboard, Gypsy the horse I rode on that incredible day and then see the delighted faces of over 1,000 spectators as I entered the lawn.

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A thank you must go to Herefordshire RDA for helping me to deliver the flame, along with Herefordshire Council and West Midlands Trains for the work they have done in recent years to improve the lives of our community. It has not gone unnoticed and is very much appreciated.

Thank you to each and everyone of you, my loyal readers and social media followers who continually take the time out of your busy schedules to read my posts each week once they have been published, it doesn’t go unnoticed and is of course very much appreciated.

Cam