Donna Bishop won a Gold medal last time the Special Olympics came to Leicester in 1989 - now she's helping others follow in her footsteps

 

Donna, now 43, from Rowlatts Hill, won gold in the relay in the 1989 games, and also took part in the shotput, long jump and discus.

 

She remembers competing in front of the crowds at Saffron Lane stadium.

 

"I was at Wigston DayCentre and they put me in the games," she said.

"It felt great when I came first in the relay. It was exciting."

 

After helping Leicester win the right to host the Special Olympics again in July 2009, Donna has now become an ambassador for the event. She is keen to make sure next year’s competitors can make the most of their opportunities.

 

"More people can get involved in the games now," said Donna, who works as a support assistant in the city council’s learning disabilities team. "I want to give people the chance to take my place."

Games director Steve Humphries it back in 1989, too dressing in a lion suit as Lester, the games’ mascot.

 

He said: "The spirit of the games has lasted 20 years people always remember what an occasion it was.

 

“For the 2009 games, the Olympic opening ceremony will be at the Walkers Stadium. It will be such an important occasion for our city ."

 

For more details about the Lord Mayor’s Special Olympics’ Appeal 2008-2009, call 0116 2232000.

 

Donations canbe sent to: Lord Mayor’s Special Olympics Appeal Leicester Games 2009 Ltd, c/o A12 New Walk Centre, Welford Place, Leicester LE1 6ZG. To helping fund raisefor the games, e-mail: fundraising@sol2009.com