Darran Winfield-stanesby

Darran is a trustee and fundraiser for Ataxia UK, a charity helping all those affected by ataxia, a rare neurological condition that worsens over time. He was diagnosed in 2001 and eventually found himself being fed by tubes and under 24 hour care. Darren often speaks of the moment the word 'weights' popped into his head whilst lying waiting to die. He always felt great when lifting weights and decided one day he would lift them again. Slowly Darran re-learnt how to swallow, eat and how to move around in his wheelchair as he was paralysed from the waist down. Back at the gym Darren discovered wheelchair bodybuilding. The intense 20 week training was difficult but yielded great results when in 2010 he became a silver medallist at the UK Body Building Championships. Darren's competitive nature and bubbly personality epitomize the spirit of the games and it would mean the world to him, and to me, if he were to carry the flame.I came 2nd place in the wheelchair class at the UK Body Building Championships 2010. my name is spelt Darran