Kelly Gallagher to support ParalympicsGB Sports Fest

“Skiing and sport are a huge part of my life. The idea that I could help to inspire and encourage more disabled people to consider sport as an option is brilliant.”

The winner of Great Britain’s historic first gold medal at a Winter Paralympics, Kelly Gallagher, will join Britain’s most successful summer sport Paralympian, Sarah Storey, as an ambassador for the next ParalympicsGB Sports Fest.

Gallagher will appear at the upcoming event, which will be held at Sportcity in Manchester on 19 May.

Prior to the opportunity to try skiing, Disability Snowsport UK will offer another tryout session at Hemel Hempstead Snowcentre on Sunday (13 April). Jade Etherington’s guide Caroline Powell will be in attendance there.

Gallagher and her guide Charlotte Evans won Britain’s first ever Paralympic gold medal at a Winter Games in the super-G at the recent Sochi 2014 Paralympics. Gallagher will join Storey at the Manchester event for question-and-answer sessions and autograph signings, as well as supporting special alpine skiing tryout sessions at Manchester Chill Factore.

Commenting on her involvement in Sports Fest, Gallagher said:

"I'm looking forward to being part of Sports Fest. I have previously seen Sports Fest events take place but with training for Sochi I've not been able to get involved.

“Skiing and sport are a huge part of my life. The idea that I could help to inspire and encourage more disabled people to consider sport as an option is brilliant.

“Sochi was truly a great opportunity for us to showcase how fantastic our sport is, and so I’m looking forward to the chance to help more people try out skiing and get involved in all disability sports at Sports Fest.”

The Sports Fest in Manchester will be the fourth of the London 2012-inspired come-and-try events hosted by the British Paralympic Association (BPA) and supported by national governing bodies. So far, nearly 2,000 attendees have come through the doors of events held across the country since London 2012.

The Cheshire-based track and road cycling star, Storey, has lent her support to the Sports Fest, which is a free multi-sport event for disabled people that aims to capture some of the enthusiasm built up over the London 2012 Paralympic Games and now into the Sochi 2014 Games.