Raising Awareness - Liam's Story...
There are many ways of raising awareness for Dyspraxia. Perhaps the most adventerous one so far was taken on by teenager Liam Plumridge in his journey across the Andes with the BBC production Beyond Boundaries.
Beyond Boundaries: Across the Andes
Liam Plumridge was born on the 22nd August 1990 in Cambridge and lived all his live in the Suffolk market town of Haverhill. Liam has dyspraxia, a condition which affects co-ordination, balance, fine motor skills, language, thought and perception. He was diagnosed when he was 7 yrs old. Liam will be dyspraxic throughout his life.
Liam is a mad football fan, supporting Cambridge United. He is the chair of the Haverhill Supporters Club for Cambridge United and plays football for the Cambridge United fans team, Abbey United. He has been a football team manager as well as secretary for Haverhill Rovers Youth. On Sundays, Liam runs the line for Sudbury & District Sunday League side Woodlands and is also a member of the Haverhill & District Operatic Society as well as finding time to be involved in the Outspoken Theatre Company which performs open air Shakespeare every summer.
A major milestone in Liam'’s life has been to trek across Ecuador as part of the BBC 2 programme Beyond Boundaries.
Beyond Boundaries returns with its greatest challenge to date; 10 physically disabled teenagers all find their strength and endurance pushed to the limit as they cross one of the highest mountain ranges in the world: the mighty Andes. Over a period of four weeks and 400km, these young people will have to fight their way from the edge of the Amazon Basin, climb up to over 5000m to reach the snowline on Cotopaxi, the highest an active volcano in the world, and then descend down to sea level, wading through miles of swamp before reaching the Pacific Ocean. They are the first known group of disabled youngsters to complete this type of expedition and were led by ex SAS commando Ken Hames. They completed the rigorous trek to show that disabled people can complete the “unthinkable”. Beyond Boundaries follows the drive, passion and drama behind this amazing adventure.
Charismatic Liam is full of hopes and dreams for his future - setting up his own voluntary public speaking service, winning awards and meeting politicians - if he’s not climbing mountains in the future - he'll be moving them.