Student who suffered broken spine celebrates two community sports awards

A GCU student who learned to walk again after breaking her spine is celebrating winning two awards recognising her commitment to community sports.

Adrienne Thomson has been named Young Volunteer of the Year in North Ayrshire’s Community Sports Awards and Ayrshire College’s Student of the Year - Making a Difference in the Community.

International Sports Management student Adrienne broke her spine in the early hours of Boxing Day 2012 and, despite wearing a back brace for several months and enduring a series of operations, learned not only to walk again but was quickly back dancing and running classes that offer a chance to get fit to people who often have limited sporting opportunities.

First year Adrienne said: “I feel truly honoured and speechless. To have won both of these awards is amazing. I'm so thankful to Ayrshire College for all the opportunities it gave me and to my family and friends for supporting me in all I carry out.”

Adrienne teaches six classes a week to residents of a sheltered housing complex and also works with  children with additional support needs and adults through the Livewell project.

Said Adrienne: “I have adapted Zumba for people’s varying needs. It’s phenomenal. It gives them a great work out, improves their health and I love it, too.”