A FORMER Buxton & Leek College student has her sights set on the Paralympics after becoming a national champion in para-cycling.
Katie Toft, 23, from Chinley, who was born with Cerebral Palsy, rode to glory in the British National C3 Time Trial in Nottinghamshire this April then followed it up with a win in the National C3 Road Circuit at Darley Moor, Derbyshire. Now she dreams of the road to Rio to represent her country in the Paralympics in September.
The High Peak athlete, who studied childcare at Buxton & Leek College then went on to gain a degree in Early Childhood Studies at Sheffield’s Hallam University, took up cycling while at university. She has worked at the Cheeky Monkeys Day Nursery in Chapel-en-le-Frith and at the Whaley Bridge Primary School After School Club but is now concentrating on her sport full time.
She said: “I am a rare case for someone with Cerebral Palsy as all four of my limbs are affected but I ride a normal road bike with pipes running from my water bottle to my handlebars. I was very wobbly when I first started riding but I just kept going and now I find riding a bike a lot easier than walking.
“I’ve put in many hours of practise and am very lucky to have two great coaches in Bonnie Storey and Geoffe Cooke as well as a really supportive family – I call them Team Toft. I train really hard every week and am lucky that, living in the Peak District, I’ve got plenty of good hills to practise on.
“When I’m racing, it’s not just me on that bike, it’s my whole family and to ride in this year’s Paralympics in Rio is my dream. I really need to get more sponsorship and support to achieve that but I keep telling myself that until that plane takes off my dream’s not over.”
Katie trains regularly at both the Manchester Velodrome and Derby Arena as well as out in the fresh air of the Peak District. She is a member of Chinley Churners and the Moss Ley Club in Tameside and is sponsored by the Derbyshire Institute of Sport.
She said: “Taking up para-cycling has really opened my eyes and changed my perspective on life. I meet a lot of ex-servicemen and women who have lost limbs in action and I really makes you think when people start complaining about the weather or minor ailments.
“We all have down days and some days I just don’t want to get on my bike but I persevere and dream of being selected for the British team.”
