Jessica-Jane Applegate welcomed as new Mencap Ambassador
Jessica-Jane Applegate MBE visited Mencap's national centre on 14 March to be officially announced as a Mencap ambassador. As a Paralympic gold medal winning athlete with a learning disability, she hopes to use her status to raise awareness of learning disability issues in sport among a wider audience.
Jessica is the Paralympic champion in the 200m freestyle event at the London 2012 Games, and competes in the S14 category for athletes with a learning disability. She said:
"I am really happy to be joining Mencap. They have been so important in helping people with a learning disability become more involved in sport and I was so pleased they campaigned to allow people with a learning disability back in to the Paralympic Games. In this role I hope I can raise the profile of people with a learning disability who compete in sporting activities, and the opportunities available to them."
Jessica, who also has Asperger’s syndrome, was amongst the first group of athletes who have a learning disability to compete in the Paralympic Games since 2000. Mencap campaigned strongly to overturn the ban on athletes with a learning disability and were delighted to help people such as Jessica realise their dreams of being part of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Everyone at Mencap is delighted to welcome Jessica-Jane as one of their ambassadors. One of the first competitions that she competed in was Mencap’s annual swimming championships. She is recognised as an excellent role model for all young athletes.
Jan Tregelles, Chief executive of Mencap said:
"Jessica’s work with Mencap began when she started to attend and support the Mencap Mile, a mass participation swim-a-thon that takes place every year at Eton Dorney, the purpose built rowing lake for the 2012 Olympic Games. Jessica has been there to offer support, guidance and motivation for those taking part and to present the medal ceremony. She will again be actively involved in this year’s event Swim Mencap, which will be taking place at Dorney Lake on Sunday 20 July 2014."
