New title for inspirational Adrian

WARRINGTON’S British wheelchair fencing national champion Adrian Derbyshire has gained another title as an ambassador for locally based charity Brainwave.
Adrian has teamed up alongside fell Brainwave Patron – X-Factor finalist Olly Murs and is pictured teaching Olly and the group The Wanted a few smart fencing moves!
Christine Cryne, Brainwave’s Chief Executive Officer, said “We are so delighted to have Adrian on board, particularly when he is so busy training and competing for a position in next year’s Paralympics.”
“He has been an amazing success story, reaching the top of his sport in less than 18 months from the day he first took up fencing and now he has been battling back after an operation on his shoulder.
“It shows what courage and determination can achieve. We think he is an ideal Ambassador. Many of our families have a child with disabilities who are written off as having little future. But we have seen time and again cases that are almost miraculous due to the families’ commitment and hard work: children who were told they would never walk, walking and those who were told they would never get into mainstream education, studying for a degree. It’s all about belief and hard work and Adrian is a wonderful role model.”
Adrian’s life was turned upside down when the lights literally went out as he was finishing a day at work at Starbucks.
He suffered a brain haemorrhage that left him critically ill and confiend to a wheelchair.
But now three years after his lifesaving operation, Adrian, now aged 37, is busy preparing for the biggest year of his life.
Adrian competes in two categories, Epee and Sabre at an international level. To date he has won two Domestic Gold Medals and three Domestic Silver Medals and a National Championship but his aim is to be World Champion and to be selected to represent Great Britain in his first ever Paralympics in 2012.
Brainwave works with families to deliver home based therapies and exercises to help children with disabilities and Developmental Delay reach their full potential.
It has three Centres (Essex, Cheshire and Somerset) and undertakes satellite clinics in both Ireland and Scotland.
Places on the programme are available for children at all three Centres. For more information see www.brainwave.org.uk ; email: [email protected] or phone: 01278 429089.