Setting Belfast on Fire!

It’s been a hectic few weeks!!!

On the 5^th Aug, I went off to Superdrive NI in Portadown with a group of blind friends to do some rally driving!  Seriously!…..Former Rally driver, Jim Crosier, took each of us around the track calling out directions!  I kept her lit, had the car sideways at one point and even managed to send a few tyres flying into the air!  It was a terrific experience, although Jim may not agree, lol!  Take a look at the video footage on my FaceBook page!

The following week-end I went off to Edinburgh with hubby Paul and friends from the Ferrari Owners Club, Ireland.  Ever the speed demon…..although you will be relieved to hear that it was Paul who was driving this time!  Lol.  The Scottish club had a lot of things organised for us, including an open top bus ride, a tour on board the Royal Yacht Britania, a visit to Edradour, the oldest whiskey distillery in Scotland, finishing with the large Festival of Speed on the Sunday.  We covered over 500 miles and it was a fab week-end!

My friend Jill and I are like the birthday twins, as we share birthdays only a few days apart, so as a special birthday treat, our hubbies organised a wee break away to the beautiful island of Malta!  It was a fabulous surprise and it was good to feel the lovely warmth of the sunshine on our faces, as Malta experienced it’s hottest weather in over 100 years!!!

On 25^th Aug, I was delighted and very honoured to be a Flame Ambassador for Lisburn City in the run up to the Paralympic Games.  The Paralympic Cauldron was lit very early on a soggy Saturday  morning by DSNI Chairman, angela Hendra MBE in the grounds of Stormont Castle, Belfast.  The Flame Ambassadors then had their lamps lit from the Cauldron and were then responsible for transporting the Flame to their respective Councils for further celebrations.

I was thrilled to be nominated to carry the Paralympic Torch as part of the Flame Festival on Saturday evening in Belfast.  We paraded from the Waterfront Hall to Belfast’s beautiful City Hall, where I then had the wonderful honour and privilege of lighting the Paralympic Cauldron on stage.  As part of the Flame Festival, there were various sporting activities going on and a concert with XFactor star, Joe McEldry and other artists performing.  The weather was kind, the streets were lined with people and Belfast was buzzing, as I carried the Flame onto the stage to lite the Paralympic Cauldron!!!  With help from hubby Paul’s guiding hand, I lit the Cauldron and thankfully, not the stage!!!  Lol.

The atmosphere was electric and it was a very emotional moment and one which I will treasure forever!  It made me very proud to be from Northern Ireland!  My sincerest thanks to DCAL and DSNI for nominating me.  

Here I am being interviewed by the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19392536

There are 8 athletes from NI taking part in the Paralympics and I would like to wish them all, every success and the very best of luck for the 2012 Games! 

Rocketing into the 21st Century!

After many frustrations and on going injuries, I’ve just started back on the water!  The dreadful weather conditions have hampered training, so at least I haven’t missed much of the season!  I’m looking forward to an intensive training camp with coach Steve Critchley over the next two weeks in preparation for the 2012 European Championships.

  

My friend and manager, Ruth Ellis from Rel.Events has dragged me kicking and screaming into the 21^st century and got me on FaceBook!  It’s very exciting and we hope to follow up soon with Twitter!   Oh boy, I’ve got a lot to learn! Lol.

It’s been a hectic few months and I’ve really enjoyed the Jubilee Celebration events and now we are on the count down to the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics!  Although water skiing is not an Olympic event, I will be following the media coverage with a keen interest. 

If you would like to follow my FaceBook profile, click on the link, log on and 'LIKE' my page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-Janet-Gray-MBE/327580047335782

Should you wish to contact me regarding coming to speak at your event, then please contact my manager, Ruth, through any of the mediums below.

Email: rel.events@hotmail.com

Office: 02895608489

Mobile: 07771356853

FaceBook Search: Rel.Events

On yer bike! Sign Up Now... please.

A few months ago, I was invited to join lots of cyclists in the New Life Cycle Challenge to promote organ donation.  I was thrilled, but thought I’d better get on my bike!!!

I saddled up on the tandem with our Health Minister, Edwin Poots, who started the challenge at the Royal Hospital, for Sick Children on Saturday morning.  Minister Poots and I cycled from the City Hospital to Lagan Valley Hospital in Lisburn, where all the cyclists were warmly welcomed and after some well deserved lunch, various speakers, including myself said a few words on the importance of signing the Donar Register.

The challenge will travel around the Province over the next 6 days, visiting all the hospitals, so watch out and cheer on all the transplant recipients and their friends and families!

The most precious gift we can ever give…..is life!!!   So if you are not already on the register…..sign up now!!! - CLICK HERE

Titanic Reading on Radio Ulster

In April I found myself caught up with all the hype and excitement of the Titanic Centeenery Celebrations and was thrilled to be invited to read  one of the Titanic Letters on Radio Ulster.  In order for me to read the letter, I memorised it and then we recorded it and it was the final letter to go out on 17^th April.

The letter was an actual letter written by one of the survivors, a young girl called Mary, who was travelling home to America on board the Titanic with her Mother  on that fateful night. 

Reading the letter, I was struck by the horror, panic, sense of futility, fear, pending doom and immense loss, which Mary and her mother, Elizabeth were experiencing.  It was an amazing feeling to be reading Mary’s words one hundred years later!

Inspire Event at Castle Buildings

In the run up to the Olympics, I have been attending a lot of events.  One of these was the Inspire Event at Castle Buildings, Stormont on 3^rd May and I thought you might like to see a photo of  what I got up to at this event!

Photo of Wayne and  myself, lol!

Venture Outdoors Toolkit

As President of Disability Sports NI I headed up to the City Hotel in Londonderry on 26h April to launch the Venture Outdoors Toolkit.  Venture Outdoors are the umbrella body for outdoor recreation and sport providers and the Toolkit was developed in partnership with DSNI.  As a  water skier, I fully appreciate the benefits of being able to enjoy an outdoor sport and the Toolkit will provide practical help and guidance to providers to make outdoor recreation and sport more inclusive of people with disabilities.

http://www.derryjournal.com/sport/toolkit-launched-to-help-young-people-from-north-west-with-disabilities-towards-sport-1-3789492

Sensory Learning Unit at Harberton Special School in Belfast

On the 27^th March, I was delighted as an Hon Lady Taverner to be invited to officially open a Sensory Learning Unit at Harberton Special School in Belfast.  It was a lovely event and I enjoyed meeting and having a bit of craic with the pupils.  The Sensory Room is absolutely fabulous and will provide a wonderful learning experience for many children with various disabilities.