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THE NEWS Limitless possibilities Growing up in the 1980s as the only child at her school with a disability, Makuini Johnson would often sit on the sideline watching other children participate in sport. “Never would I have dreamed that I could participate in sport, let alone as an elite athlete. I feel incredibly blessed.” Makuini’s opportunity came Bowling challenge Ten pin bowling has taught Zane Carlson an important lesson. “No matter what you have, you can go and achieve anything.” Zane, 31, has been bowling for 17 years, and practices five times a week. “Having Cerebral Palsy while bowling has been difficult. Tenpin bowling is a sport that is a lot more challenging than a lot of people think. “I have had to overcome a lot of pain while bowling and the fatigue level is huge – some tournaments you are bowling from 8am to 6pm,” the Aucklander says. “I had to learn to bowl a little different to keep up with the able body people. “My greatest bowling achievement was representing New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup and my proudest moment has to be winning the 2022 Australian Masters.” The Australian tournament was grueling, and there was plenty for Zane to overcome. She enjoys “everything” about taking part in triathlons, especially “my whānau round me cheering me”. Hine-Mei wants other young people with Cerebral Palsy to know the benefits of taking part in sport. “Your health better, your lungs stronger, makes your joints and muscles stronger too,” Hine-Mei says. Jan Cherrington, Hine-Mei’s Nan, says the family is grateful for the Society’s financial support which gives access to taxis and the gym. when she was selected to be part of the New Zealand Elite Para Mixed va’a (waka) team to represent Aotearoa at the International Va’a Federation (IVF) World Elite Sprint Championships in London in August. She competed in three races against Great Britain, bringing home a gold medal and two silvers. “They certainly made us work for our medals. Although, beating them in the first race, makes it a little sweeter because we aren’t well resourced, we hold down day jobs, organise whānau, our disability supports, and in between we trained and did all of this during the thick of New Zealand winter.” Makuini received an Individual Grant from the Cerebral Palsy Society which contributed to the cost of getting to the competition. “Without the Society’s support, I would not have experienced being part of a team, being involved in sports and felt an increase in wellbeing by way of tinana (body) and hinengaro (emotional). “Most importantly, is the mana enhancing knowledge of knowing your limitless possibilities. For a Māori woman who identifies as disabled this understanding enables me to see no limits.” Makuini has since raced in the Waka Ama Long Distance Nationals at Waitangi where the team won gold. She has her sights set on the Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024, and hopes to compete in the IVF Va’a World Elite Sprint Championships in 2024, in Hawaii. Continued over page... SEP–DEC 2022 THE REVIEW | 7