Brave gymnast wins local 'Oscar'

A young woman with a rare condition that has led to her being hospitalised more than 250 times with “life-threatening episodes” has won a top local honour after defying the illness to become an inspirational gymnast.

PICTURED: ACTIVE LIVES EREWASH AWARDS RUNNERS-UP: Active Leader Award – Reece Davies; Active Volunteer Award – Kerry Bowley; Active Participant Award – Steve Wright; Active Young Persons Award – Joe Peverley; Active Group Award – Long Eaton Running Club; Active Project Award – Girls Football at Parkside High; Special Recognition Award – Kath Kearns.

Natasha Coates was 18 when she was diagnosed with mast cell activation syndrome – a glitch in her immune system.  It means she is prone to severe allergic reactions – sometimes just from perspiring or even LAUGHING.

Despite being hospitalised on average every two weeks she has battled to become an elite disability gymnast – winning 27 British titles and 42 medals. Her courage has now earned her an accolade in what are known as the Active Lives Erewash Awards, which is an annual Oscars-style event staged by Erewash Borough Council for unsung sporting heroes.

This year it was held at the New Manor Ground home of Ilkeston Town FC. Natasha, 29, was presented with the Legacy Leisure Adversity Award – after secretly being nominated by Erewash Valley Gymnastics Club.

The club’s Hannah Gibbs described her as “an inspiration for us all”. Hannah said: “Tasha's story is unlike anyone else's and she has a phenomenal outlook on life.”

There were two winners of the award this year – after fellow Ilkeston resident Steve Webster also wowed judges. Steve, 55, was diagnosed with a rare spinal condition in 2004 and suffers from FND – functional neurological disorder.

Its painful symptoms include seizures and paralysis. Most of the time he is in a wheelchair – and he has an implant that feeds drugs into his spinal cord. There was no support group for sufferers so he set up his own – a nationwide charity called FND Dimensions that he raises money for himself by staging sponsored swims.

His latest feat was covering 100 miles by swimming lengths of a pool. It brought in £4,400. Fay Stainsby, who nominated him, said: “He encourages all of the people he supports to keep fit and is a great inspiration to them all.”

Steve had a successful career working in the environmental sector before falling ill. He was keen on racket sports and basketball – and ran the London Marathon in 1994 and 1997. 

He said of defying his illness by taking to the pool to raise money: “I can only use my arms when I swim, as kicking brings on uncontrollable spasms. My events have been featured on TV, radio, press and also had the support from Adam Peaty, Mark Foster and Ross Davenport.”

Accolades were also handed out in a string of other categories at the Active Lives Erewash event. The Active Leader Award went to Rachel Argent for her dedication to Long Eaton Parkrun, where she is event director. She is a wife and mother who has a full-time job.

Ian Chant, who nominated her, said: “She has been responsible for the event since June 2015 and in that time we have had 155,255 finishers.”

Maggie Tillson won the Active Volunteer Award for organising the group Ilkeston Cycle for Health. The Active Participant Award went to Emma Bamford, of Cotmanhay. The former carer was housebound with a host of conditions until joining a Let’s Live Well With Pain course in a bid to turn her life around.  That led to her working with a personal trainer under a scheme called Exercise by Referral. Now Emma has recovered enough to get a part-time job. 

Aaron Ishmael, of Erewash Voluntary Action, nominated her. He said: “This is another huge milestone for Emma, as she thought she would never work again.”

Young football referee Ashton Milner, of Ilkeston, won the Active Young Persons Award. He is just 15 but has officiated at more than 100 grassroots football games and hopes to one day make it to the Premier League. 

The Active Group Award went to Ilkeston Community Boxing Club, while the Active Project Award was won by Brackenfield SEND School in Long Eaton for boosting sports such as yoga, cricket and cycling.

A joint winner of the Special Recognition Award was the council’s own Paula Hall, who works helping residents to get active and who was saluted for her long service. She shared the accolade with 82-year-old Paul Booth, who is celebrating 60 years of coaching basketball.

Paul, from Ilkeston, started at Sandiacre Friesland School in 1964 – then set up a team when Kirk Hallam’s St John Houghton School opened in 1965. In 1968 he launched a youth club girls team which went on to compete in Division One of the National Basketball League.

Players he mentored have gone on to achieve national representative honours. Sharon Hickson, of West Hallam, nominated him. She said: “At the age of 82 he is still head coach of a team and continues his own development to make sure he is coaching to the best of his ability.”

Erewash Councillor Josy Hare, who is Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Congratulations to all those honoured in the Active Lives Erewash Awards – which recognise local people who are truly inspirational in encouraging sport, fitness and wellbeing in the community. The council’s thanks go out not only to the winners but to the runners-up and all those who were nominated.”