Anna Smith

Anna is passionate about sports, whether helping people with mental health issues in her role as a NHS sports therapist or playing football for an amateur ladies team. Earlier this year she returned home from work to find a neighbour being attacked by two thugs. Typically Anna went to her rescue, her actions saving her neighbour but she was subject to a cowardly, sustained and violent attack. Anna was in intensive care for a week before a lengthy intensive operation to rebuild her shattered cheekbones, nose and jaws. Her confidence was crushed by the incident and she had to move home but she has now taken a positive approach to life, noting that not everyone gets a free face lift and hiding the effects from her 2 young children. Whilst she needs some more operations, she has worked hard to regain full fitness so that she can return to helping others though sports activities and to playing football. Reflecting on the time in hospital, she has been determined to do more therapeutic work to support people in need. She has now successfully gained NHS sponsorship for a part time Occupational Therapy degree to build on her expertise and extend her skills for the benefit of others. Anna's passion for sporting activities, her incredible determination following this horrific incident and the fact that she has used her experience to positive effect for the benefit of others deserves a nomination as an Olympic Torchbearer.