A recent trip to Haiti was invigorated by a British Paralympian joining the BMS team as a volunteer.

Wheelchair sprinter Anne Wafula Strike took time out from training in June to meet Haiti’s Paralympic hopefuls at Haiti Hospital Appeal’s (HHA) disability sports facilities and rehabilitation centre.

Anne went with a community rehabilitation team supported by BMS and shared her story amongst communities in northern Haiti and also managed to fit in some time to train alongside the country’s London 2012 Paralympic Team.

A highlight of her trip included meeting Josue Cajuste, who will represent Haiti at the Paralympics competing for shot and javelin titles. She also met earthquake survivor Leon Gaisli – who hopes to become Haiti’s first ever handcyclist in the Paralympics.

Encouraged
Anne encouraged and inspired them as they work towards competing on the world stage. “I’ve learned so much from them… Cajuste is such a star. In Haiti he is someone with a disability who’s been marginalised and regarded as useless in the community, but he will be representing and flying the flag for Haiti in London this summer. That is so powerful.”

Featured on BMS’ Undefeated resource, Anne Wafula Strike became the first wheelchair racer from east Africa to compete in the Paralympic Games in 2004. Yet, despite her recent success and fame, like many of the disabled children in Haiti, her life began very differently.

Cursed
Anne contracted polio as a young girl. This resulted in her family being driven from their community due to the stigma and abuse that they faced. Anne explained to people in several communities and schools around Cap Haitien, that as a child, people viewed her as ‘cursed or bewitched’, a reality faced by many children in Haiti.

“As a BMS volunteer, it’s been a privilege to share God’s love in the community and see how people’s live have been transformed. This is a great year, the games are coming to London and we’re all excited, everyone’s talking about medals, but there are communities in the world with virtually no accessibility for people with disabilities.”

What the church needs
Churches in the UK can watch Anne training and sharing her story of Christian faith by ordering Undefeated, a church service pack to give churches everything they need for a one-hour service.

Gary Streeter MP, chair of Christians in Parliament, called the feature video of the Undefeated resource “fantastic” at its launch at an event at the Houses of Parliament, saying that it was “exactly the kind of thing that the Church needs to be involved in”.