Paralympic Flame girl is burning with ambition (From York Press)

Paralympic Flame girl is burning with ambition

8:04am Wednesday 25th July 2012 in News

Gold medal-winning disabled York climber Sianagh Gallagher will be among City of York Council ’s welcoming party for the Paralympic Flame when it arrives in York on August 24.

The flame, which will arrive by train from London, will be taken to the lawn of the Royal York Hotel where it will be split into five and given to representatives of Leeds, Sheffield, Huddersfield and Beverley.

York’s flame will then be paraded proudly through the city on an open topped bus. Travelling via the Minster and Bootham, it will join an escort of accessible bikes at Front Street, Acomb , before arriving at Energise Leisure Centre at about 3.15pm.

The arrival of the flame coincides with Celebrating Ability Day which showcases the physical activity and sport opportunities delivered across the city for disabled people of all ages.

Paraclimbing is among the activities on offer and is the sport in which Sianagh, aged 15, has just secured a gold medal in the National Paraclimbing Series 2012 in London, in the upper and lower limb category.

The York High School pupil earned the highest number of nominations to carry York’s Paralympic Flame and learned to climb at Energise Leisure Centre.

Sianagh said: “I cannot believe I’ve got gold again: that’s two golds and a silver this year and it feels amazing. My ultimate goal is to compete at Paralympic level, so that’s where I’m aiming.”

Councillor Sonja Crisp , City of York Council’s cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism said: “Splitting Yorkshire and Humber’s Paralympic Flame is a great honour for the city.”