eyesongold

These are two of New Zealands finest. Michelle is pilot of a tamden cycle racing duo.

Jayne is the tail.

But Jayne is also totally blind. She "is unique as she is the only totally blind lady in New Zealand attempting to do this !"

"Under the expert guidance of NZs Paralympics Coach, Brian Gilbert the two Kapiti Coast women have already qualified for the IPC World Champs in Switzerland in September and another competition in Kuala Lumpur two months later. Parsons lost her sight 23 years ago after an abusive partner punched her repeatedly in the face and operation after operation failed to give her sight back."

Jayne Parsons, sitting

and Michelle Laurenson

Their goal of representing NZ at the

2008 Beijing Paralympics.

After considering their presentation at a bi monthly meeting, our club has sponsered these remarkable women with $1500 worth of equipment for their efforts

Now, some of their story, much of which is quoted from their web site

Back row: Henry Smith (President) John Linschoten (Sectretary)

2nd Row: Allan Bacon, Gary Benton (District Governor),

Front: Jayne Parsons, Michelle Laurenson, Olando smith

I lost my sight through domestic violence and have been in and out of women’s refuges and I know what it is like

for woman who have been manipulated and beaten.

Now with this unfortunate experience behind me, I have always had in my heart to one day be in a position to get

along side other women and help them to see their way out of a bad situation.

I have been blind now for 23 Years ( almost half my life ) and although I have learned to adjust my lifestyle and

cope with raising my children, the things I had been able to do as sighted people can do since then, has been

severely restricted.

Now that my older two have left home and my husband is at work, I felt the need to break out of the in home

situation and look at what I could firstly achieve for myself and along the way for others as well. I have always

been keen on sport and felt that this would be a positive way to achieve this. After looking at my options, I

decided that Tandem Cycling would best suit me. My long term goal is to compete at the 2008 Paralympics in

Beijing, and to bring home the ultimate prize ‘the gold medal’.

To achieve this goal will help me to inspire others and others with disabilities to believe that anything is possible

if they dare to step outside of their comfort zone.

If nothing else I see sport as a great way in helping others to lift their self esteem.

"So what if our bike is bright yellow!"

"Ready set go! - Rotorua 100k flyer"

On their way to Switzerland,

from Wellington airport.

5 September 2006