Mark Chard

Mark has had cerebral palsy since birth and at the age of 13 took up swimming as therapy to control the spasms he sufferred as a result of the cerebral palsy. Within 4 years he had made such good progress that he was included in the Great Britain team for the 1984 Paralympic Games in New York where he gained the silver medal in the 25metres swimming. Ten years later he swam 5000m badge. Quite an achievement for a young man who was and still is wheelchair bound and who is quadruplegic and only has limited use of his left arm. Mark's other passion is live music and he hosts his own interesting website which gives details of access to venues for other disabled music lovers. Mark holds down a full-time job, runs his own home with the help of a carer and has studied successfully for a BSc (computer science) degree. Mark is an inspiration to people both ablebodied and disabled.