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INF's BBC Radio 4 appeal

24 JAN 13

ANNE WAFULA STRIKE AT THE BBC.

An appeal in aid of International Nepal Fellowship will be broadcast in the UK on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 3 February.

The presenter of the appeal is Anne Wafula Strike (Paralympic wheelchair racer, author and sporting ambassador).  Anne is passionate about INF’s work. 

Funds raised from this appeal will provide life-changing wheelchairs to children living with cerebral palsy in Nepal.  Children with cerebral palsy in Nepal are often very isolated.  The wheelchairs will help children to be more independent and fully part of family and community life.  

Anne suffered paralysis at two years old, and had to wait 27 years for her first wheelchair. It is her hope that children living with cerebral palsy in Nepal do not have to wait as long as she did for a wheelchair. 

If you are in the UK, please do tune in to the broadcast: Sunday 3 February on BBC Radio 4 (92-95 FM, 103-105 FM, online) at 7.55am and 9.26pm.  

If you are outside of the UK, you can listen to the appeal after Sunday via the BBC Radio 4 Appeal web page.

To give to this appeal, please visit the INF donate page: click on your region, complete the online form and select ‘BBCR4 wheelchairs for children with Cerebral Palsy appeal’ from the options.

You can also hear Anne speak of her admiration for the work of INF, and why she is presenting the appeal. 

In Reality I Dance (sort of!)

DECEMBER 11, 2012 · 12:30 PM

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Anne Wafula Strike on Sequins and Snowballs

Anne Wafula Strike is one of the new recruits for the Rhinestone Rollers festive extravaganza Sequins and Snowballs. Here she tells us a bit about her experience with Graeae so far:

When my agent rang me and said I had been invited to perform in a Christmas show with the famous Rhinestone Rollers I felt immensely honoured but I did wonder how they could transform me from wheelchair racer into a wheelchair dancer. I have performed on several stages in my life, from an early career as a singer/musician in Kenya to public speaking and becoming an elite athlete, but none of that compares to my part in Sequins and Snowballs.

To say I was daunted is an understatement but they say people with many interests live longest and happiest!! However, it has been one of the great experiences of my life so let me tell you a little about it.

Directors Jenny Sealey and Amit Sharma, along with Mark Smith, the totally brilliant choreographer, are doing their very best to bring out my inner self. I’ve got rhythm but a memory like a sieve so it is really hard work.

In my ‘normal’ life I have a very different schedule but for this show – it’s been about so many things. We rehearse from ten until six and then I make the exhausting journeys to and from Bradbury Studios, but also have lots of fun.

The team are all lovely to work with. You just have to interact with this group to realise they ooze charisma and are passionate about what they do; everyone is fantastic. Samanta and Katy have really developed their own style during rehearsals; Penny has an encyclopaedic knowledge and remembers everything; Mandy is very outgoing and really made me feel at home. For me, David is king of disabled performers and if you thought he amazed you by flying during the London 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony, then wait and see what moves ‘King David’ has for you in this show.  Daryl and Zane are a joy to watch as they sign, Alex and Sean are wonderful musicians with a great sense of humour and Alisa brings a smile to all our faces.

So, we have a few more days of rehearsing before doing two shows on Saturday 15 December in the Clore Ballroom in the Southbank Centre, at 2pm and 5pm. I am nervous and very excited at the same time and can’t wait for the opportunity to show off my newly learnt skills in front of my family and friends. No doubt I will be very sad when it’s all over but I will always be very proud to say I worked with Graeae’s fantastic Rhinestone Rollers.

- Anne Wafula Strike

Catch sequins and Snowballs on Saturday 15 December at the Clore Ballroom, Southbank Centre.
Free performances at 2pm and 5pm with free masterclass workshops in between.

Educating Essex 2

On Monday morning I was invited to speak to a group of media students at Harlow College. I was the first guest speaker to use the new lecture theatre and I was a bit nervous. I had prepared a powerpoint presentation and used a piece of music by Des'ree, 'You Gotta Be', as an introduction. There were about eighty students present as well as a couple of lecturers. I spoke about my life but more importantly about the way education can empower people. I had a good response and the students asked a lot of interesting questions. I spoke to quite a few students afterwards and they seemed to think it had been a positive experience so it was well worth taking the time to do.

Next it was off to Harlow Leisurezone for a photocall arranged by Harlow Council. It was to accompany the news that Harlow has been chosen for the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route. This is great news for everyone in the town and will give people the opportunity to feel closer to the Games and be a part of history. I'll be there on July 7th to see the torch passing through. I'm really looking forward to it!

In the evening it was back to the track in the cold drizzly weather but as usual Ken soon had me sweating, sniffling, and working hard. By the end of an hour and forty five minutes I felt so proud because the session had been completed. Then it was home to cook dinner.

London 2012 Storyteller

NEWS! NEWS! NEWS!
I am very pleased to have been chosen to be a BT Storyteller. With the games coming to London it's an exciting opportunity and I'm really looking forward to the challenges it will present. Please click on the link for further information and please join me on my journey as the story unfolds and for regular update.

http://www.btlondon2012.co.uk/storytellers/MeetStorytellers-Pages/STbio_120.html

Swiss Roll.

Hello and welcome to my new blog. I am a Paralympian who competes in wheelchair racing, sprinting to be exact about it, and in this blog you can read about how I am progressing in my chosen sport.
It's been a difficult year for me because I missed out on qualifying for Beijing due to a torn muscle in my shoulder. I was very disappointed not to take part because even with my injury I just missed out on getting a qualifying time in the 100m. I managed a personal best time of 17.38 and the qualifying time was 17.25 secs! Still, I got over it and started training again properly this year.
I've just returned from Switzerland where I took part in two competitions. In Ibach I managed 17.73 secs in the 100m, just outside my PB, and I was delighted with that result but, as I said, the weather was wet and windy and my 200m and 400m were just ordinary.
In Jona, a really fast track, all of the Brits were looking forward to fast times but the weather was horrendous, so bad people were turning blue with the cold! There was nowhere to get a hot drink and it was generally depressing. Still, I did my races, albeit in times that were poor so it was a bit of a disappointing end to the trip. Anyway,the weather was bad for everyone so no complaints.
Now I'm getting ready for Crystal Palace in July so it's train, train, and more training.