No Limits to magic Maisie's medal haul

Navan para athlete (12), leading from the front with support from Enable Ireland

As part of their Life with No Limits campaign, Enable Ireland has shared the story of 12-year-old Maisie Randle from Abbeylands, Navan, who won three gold medals for Ireland this summer at the Activity Alliance Parathletics Games in Coventry, UK.

In just two years, Maisie has become a gold-medal-winning Para Athlete, with 57 medals to her name so far. In July, she represented Ireland at the Activity Alliance Parathletics Games in Coventry, UK. There she earned three gold medals and achieved a personal best in shot putt.

Maisie, who has a diagnosis of Spina Bifida, said: "I train once a week with Fr Murphy’s. Another lad and I are the only wheelchair users. Everyone else is able-bodied. Training can be tiring on the arms, but it is fine. I use a skipping rope with balls on the end to help train my arms. I train for 400 metres on my own, but I do throwing with everyone else. The coaches are really good at throwing, so they help me with that. They give great tips and support."

Maisie's main event is track competing in 100m, 200m and 400m, which is her favourite, but she also competes in javelin, shot put, and discus. She explained that her wheelchair has sports wheels to help her take part, and she uses gloves to help with grip.

Since starting athletics in 2024, Maisie is proud to have competed in 20 competitions, which have taken her all over the country. She has 57 medals and a number of trophies.

"Competing in Coventry is my proudest achievement so far. I trained so hard for it. When it came time for the competition, I was full of excitement. I was one of 23 athletes representing Ireland. When I heard I’d won three gold medals, I felt like crying! I was still in shock when I collected them. It took me a while to realise what I’d actually just achieved.”

For 75 years, Enable Ireland has provided vital disability services to children and adults in 15 counties across Ireland. Every September, Enable Ireland’s Life With No Limits campaign showcases the personal stories, ambitions and experiences of people with disabilities including Maisie's story.

Commenting on the campaign, Dónal Kitt, Enable Ireland National Fundraising Manager, said: “Enable Ireland was founded 75 years ago by Dr Robert Collis as Cerebral Palsy Ireland, beginning with a £100 donation to open an assessment clinic. That spirit of people coming together to support children and adults with disabilities remains at the heart of our work today. Life With No Limits is a highlight of the year for Enable Ireland. It amplifies the voices of children and adults who use our services, sharing their lived experiences with the wider community.

"By doing so, the campaign not only raises awareness, but also supports empowerment and champions inclusion. Crucially, Life With No Limits helps generate the funds that help to sustain and grow our services nationwide. We encourage everyone to get involved. You can donate to one of Enable Ireland’s charity shops, or online at www.enableireland.ie.Together, we can help ensure that children and adults with disabilities have the supports they need, today and into the future.”

Enable Ireland provides vital disability services to 13,000 children and adults with physical, sensory, intellectual disabilities and autism across Ireland. Their services for children with disabilities and their families cover all aspects of a child's physical, educational, and social development from early infancy through adolescence. In Meath, Enable Ireland provides vital disability services from its Children’s Disability Network Teams in Navan and Dunshaughlin.

For adults, they offer a range of services which include day services, training, personal development, supported and independent living, and social and leisure activities. Enable Ireland also provides an award-winning Home and Community Support Service from Mullaghboy Industrial Estate, Navan.

Every year, Enable Ireland needs over €2 million in additional funding to meet the costs of delivering their services. The additional income generated from Enable Ireland's shops and fundraising is crucial. Without it, the charity would not be able to meet the needs of the children and their families relying on Enable Ireland's services.

You can support the ‘Enable Ireland Life With No Limits’ campaign by making a purchase in one of their charity shops or donating online at www.enableireland.ie.

The public can also support Enable Ireland by giving to volunteers collecting for the charity throughout the month of September. Or drop a bag of quality pre-loved items into their local Enable Ireland shop or clothing bank or into any TK Maxx store nationwide as part of their Give Up Clothes For Good campaign.