Plucky Patrick heads for world champs

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 20, 8 October 1985, Page 1

Plucky Patrick heads for world champs

Local boy, Patrick Cooper, is to take part in the World Championships for Disabled Skiers to be held in Sweden in April 1986. Patrick is seventeen and is studying for U.E. at Rua-

pehu College. He lost his right leg when he was run over by a~bus at five years of age, but he has never let his handicap slow him down. He first learned to ski in one of the disabled skiers' weeks, run by the New Zea-

land Association for Disabled Skiers, held every year on Whakapapa. "I just played around for a few years and then someone persuaded me to enter the Disabled National Championships in 1981 — I surprised myself by winning two silvers." Since then Patrick has gone from strength to strength, coming first in his class this year. Patrick's next big hurdle is to raise the money for his trip. He needs approximately $10,000 because the host country will pay only for accommodation and other costs during the 12 days of the competition. Patrick has to raise money to pay for fares, board and lodging for his two-month training time in Sweden before the competition, a race coach, plus all the other costs that skiers must pay such as lift tickets. With typical courage Patrick plans to begin raising money with a sponsored bike ride round the mountains at Labour Weekend. He will be accompanied by his mother and sister on horse-back, and he expects to take two days, staying a night in Turangi. We wish this plucky young man all the luck in the world.