THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

GLASGOW 2014Using the Olympic &

Paralympic Values

Megan Dawson-Farrell

Megan Dawson-Farrell

Born with spina bifida, she also suffers from hydrocephalus — the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the cavities of the brain.The condition is treated by inserting a shunt, which drains the fluid. Occasionally, there can be problems with the shunt and a visit to hospital is required for an operation. She’s had ‘five or six’ over the past 12 months.Earlier in the year, Megan contracted an infection that began eating away at her brain after the shunt snapped. It left a hole in the side of her head

Megan will be competing in Glasgow on the athletics track

Jennifer Khwela – South Africa

Jennifer Khwela• Jennifer was born

premature , several weeks too early

• As a result her lungs were underdeveloped and she could not get enough oxygen to her brain

• This left her with asthma & mild brain damage

• When she was 18 she measured 1.45 the height of an average 10 year old

• She fell in love with gymnastics in 2000 when as a nine year old she watched the Sydney Olympic Games on TV

2010 a Silver Medal• At the Delhi

Commonwealth Games in 2010 she won a silver medal in the vault– the first black gymnast to win a medal at the Games

• When she returned home there were huge crowds at Durban airport to greet her

• Her response to this …‘I’m happy and proud that I was able to make my country proud’

• A difficult start to life had only made her even more determined !

Joel Hodgson - Belize

Joel Hodgson 26 Athletics 400m - Belize• He was abandoned as a child by

his mother when she left him & his 2 sisters at an orphanage

• Adopted by George & Shona Hodgson a Scottish couple

• In 2009 Joel went to London to ‘make his fortune’

• Thieves broke into his flat & smashed it up – had to sleep on the steps of his local police station

• He lost contact with his parents who did not know that he was homeless

• In 2010 sold ‘The Big Issue’ outside a legal firm• They were so impressed with him

they gave him a job in their office

Joel Hodgson• His new job transformed

his life• He was able to re connect

with his family in Scotland• On ‘the proudest day of my

life’ Joel carried the Olympic torch in 2012 after being nominated by his work mates

• He is hoping to compete for Belize in the Commonwealth Games if he can achieve the qualifying time

Chantal Petitclerc

Chantel Petitclerc• At the age of 13 Chantel lost the

use of her legs following an accident

• Her PE teacher at school convinced her to take up swimming to build up her strength & stamina

• This was to be her first contact with sport and 4 years later she discovered wheelchair athletics

• She never looked back !• She has since competed in 5

Paralympic Games winning 21 medals including 14 Gold !

• At London 2012 she was a coach with the Team GB Paralympic team

• In Glasgow 2014 she will be Head of Mission for the Canadian team