The Olympic torch has finally made its way to Manchester. With a detailed journey to take, weaving through the streets of our beloved city, STYLEetc set out to meet one bearer, Claire Dixon, who shall be carrying the torch through Reedsholme to the city centre.
Claire’s nomination story
Claire’s dream was to become a professional cyclist and win an Olympic Gold Medal. Claire was a Junior National Cycling Champion and represented GB in both the Track and Road Junior Worlds. At 18 Claire signed for an Italian Professional Team.
Unfortunately Claire’s intensive training had taken its toll and Claire developed a serious injury which needed immediate surgery and kept her off her bike for 12 months. Claire decided to do her degree and then take up where she left off. In 2006 whilst racing in Tasmania Claire was involved in a life threatening accident in which she suffered a brain haemorrhage and broke her back in 2 places.
Claire’s career as a cyclist was over but undaunted Claire wrote, fronted and produced Sports Central for Channel M Claire works closely with Manchester City Council and The Sport and Leisure Trust to help promote grass root sport schemes. One of Claire recent projects was to make a DVD on CADS (Children’s Able and Disabled Sport) . CADS philosophy is that sport can be enjoyed by all and children play and learn from each other. The DVD helped the project achieve lottery funding. Claire has showcased the legacy of many Worlds Events in Manchester; including all the events that made up Manchester World Sport 08 gaining the City the accolade of Sports City of the Year. Claire is an inspiration to her family and to countless others in the community and Sport is an inspiration to Claire.
Manchester shall play host to some very exciting events around the city to mark this occasion, and shall end on a high with Indie rockers The Courteeners and The Halle Youth Choir providing an evening of free entertainment as the Olympic Torch is cheered into Manchester city centre.
The evening celebration show will be held in Albert Square from 4pm on Saturday June 23 to mark the arrival of the flame into the city.
All at STYLEetc would like to wish Claire good luck and shall be there to support her on the day!
We hope to see you all there…
