Ellie Simpson

1. Tell us about yourself and your successes so far?

Hello! My name is Ellie Simpson. I am 25 years old and I have Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, which I have had since birth following a birth trauma. For me this means that all four limbs are affected by my Cerebral Palsy and I particularly struggle with anything involving fine motor skills, such as cutting up food, doing up buttons and doing my hair. I can walk, however I get tired very easily, and when I am out and about I use a wheelchair. My Cerebral Palsy also affects my speech, however I am understandable and I do not need to use any communication aids. So far in my life I have had successes of varying degrees, from big to small. I suppose my first major successes were getting my GCSE's and A-levels as I was told that I probably wouldn’t be able to do them. A common theme throughout my life has been that many people assume that I have little intelligence just because I have a physical disability. After I left school, I discovered sport, specifically Athletics, which changed my life forever. I started out by doing an event called the Club Throw, which is a seated throws event for people with Cerebral Palsy. I thoroughly enjoyed this and was in love with my new found sport – for the first time I felt like I could do something and like I could be a part of something big. A couple of years later, my life was to change again when I discovered RaceRunning. This was a massive game changer for me. RaceRunning is a Para Athletics event specifically for people with Cerebral Palsy where athletes use a three-wheeled frame that resembles a tricycle without pedals to sprint. Last year I represented Great Britain at the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai. Representing Great Britain in itself was a major success and achievement for me, but I also won a silver medal too, which was just incredible! I wasn’t expecting much with it being my GB debut and my first major championships. Also when I left school I set up the charity CP Teens UK which provides ‘help, hope, inspiration & friendship’ for children and young people with Cerebral Palsy and physical disabilities. When I set the charity up in 2013 I had no idea what a major success it would be. I only set out to connect a few young people with similar struggles based upon my own personal experience of growing up with a disability, but seven years later it is a fully registered charity and has even been recognised by the Prime Minister. CP Teens UK has been, and is definitely one of my biggest successes in my life.

2. How did you first get into RaceRunning?

I first got into RaceRunning when I was competing at a CP Sport competition for the Club Throw. I saw this ‘thing’ hurtling down the track and I thought “wow, I could do that!”. I then found out that it was a RaceRunner and I signed up immediately to the next CP Sport RaceRunning Taster Day. I fell in love immediately and I knew I had found the sport for me; I was doing lap after lap of the running track and I was absolutely hooked. Without hesitation I went home and ordered my own RaceRunner straight away. I just knew I had found something special.

3. You set up CP Teens who offering support for people with Cerebral Palsy. So, how important is it for disabled people to have a network of people in a similar situation to them?

I think it is so important for disabled people to have a network of support from people like them with similar struggles. I didn’t realise the true importance of this until I setup CP Teens UK. I knew it was important and I know I felt the absence of it myself being in a mainstream school throughout my education, but it wasn’t until I set up the charity that I really saw how very important it actually is. When young people with physical disabilities discover CP Teens UK they all say how wonderful it is to connect with other people who share their path and their experiences. As a result they often become much more confident young people, which is so important and it all comes from having a network of people like them. I think that many young people with disability spend so much time trying to ‘fit in’ that it is almost a relief when they find people where they don’t have to do that and can just concentrate on being themselves.

4. How have RaceRunning frames developed over time, and can you think of any further improvements to help you?

There is currently only one global mass producer of RaceRunning frames, so most of them don’t really differ much from one another. Some athletes, including myself, have privately made bespoke frames, which are designed and built totally to our individual needs. However, rules and regulations ensure that all frames are built following certain guidelines and measurements meaning that on the whole, they are standardised. What tends to differ is the materials and components used to build the frame, which largely depend on individual budgets.

5. As the Paralympics in Tokyo was postponed, do you think there is a chance that RaceRunning will be included in the rescheduled 2021 Paralympics?

I honestly don’t know about inclusion for RaceRunning at Tokyo 2021 and the postponing of the Paralympic Games. My gut instinct says no, because I believe it has to be part of a full Paralympic cycle for inclusion, but that is only my personal thought process!

6. Tell us about classification in RaceRunning?

Currently there are three classifications for RaceRunning – RR1, RR2 & RR3. RR1 is for the most severely impaired athletes and RR3 is for the least impaired athletes. CPISRA [Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association] currently oversee classification for RaceRunning, however there are plans in place at the moment for classification to be transferred over to World Para Athletics and become a part of the main Para Athletics classification system.

7. How important do you think it is for disability sport to have media coverage?

I think it is so important for disability sport to receive media coverage and it is something that doesn’t happen very much and is so overlooked. You will often find that able-bodied sport gets coverage, but the disability equivalent doesn’t, plus this happens across most sports and at all levels. The coverage of the Paralympic Games has got a lot better since London 2012, however do you see any other coverage of para and disability at any other time? No, not really! It is almost as if we are ‘rolled’ out onto TV and across newspapers every four years and that’s your lot!

When I won my silver medal at the World Championships for Great Britain in 2019 I got a tiny little article in my local newspaper. If I was an able-bodied sprinter who had won a medal for Great Britain at that level, I'm sure I would’ve got more than a small article in my local newspaper.

8. What are your aims for the next 5 years?

My aims for the next five years is to essentially keep up what I have been doing. I would love to represent Great Britain again, especially after the tough time that Coronavirus has bought on us all. Before the virus hit, I was at the top of my game and aiming for selection for the European Championships in Poland. I was also currently meant to be at the World RaceRunning Championships in Copenhagen. I just can’t wait to be back on a track, and it will be amazing to compete at such a high level again, since my training has been compromised for the last 3-4 months.

I also want to continue to develop and grow the charity. Throughout lockdown it has been extremely busy and lots of new young people have discovered CP Teens UK, so I'm really excited about where I can take the charity post COVID-19.

In my personal life I also hope to buy my own house in the next five years!

9. Have you ever tried any other disability sports and would you consider taking them up in the future?

Apart from the Club Throw, I haven’t really tried any other disability sports. I have tried horse riding, which I really did enjoy, but unfortunately due to lack of local opportunity and provision I was unable to carry on. I also tried seated volleyball, but due to my lack of hand coordination I was unable to do this!

10. What advice would you give someone who is interested in RaceRunning? To anyone who wants to try RaceRunning I would say absolutely go for it and give it a go! I never thought I would be very good at it, but it absolutely changed my life and I never imagined on that taster day that I would be in Dubai at the World Championships in a Great Britain kit with a silver medal around my neck. You never know until you try, and if you don’t try, you'll forever be wondering ‘What if?’