Anne Strike
Anne was born in Kenya into a family of 8 and life was very tough. It became even tougher when she was struck down with polio. Wheelchairs were not common in her country so she was forced to get around on calipers and crutches made of solid steel. Despite all the disadvantages she managed to do very well in school and went on to university, earning a B.Ed and becoming a teacher.
She came to the UK in 2000 and married her fiance, whom she’d met whilst he was working with VSO in Kenya. Their son, Tim, was born in 2001, and in an effort to reduce her gained weight she began training in her wheelchair at the local running club. Her potential was spotted by a coach, Terry Martin, and it was he who helped Anne to get her first racing chair.
Anne took to the sport like a duck to water and began winning races. Even the theft of her racing chair didn’t deter her and she raised the money for a new one with the help of a local radio station and friends. She became the first ever wheelchair racer from East Africa to compete in the 2004 Paralympics and was awarded a special gold medal to recognize her achievement.
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