Mandy Lattimore’s abilities knows no bounds
Local lawn bowler tells us how her eye is not only set on the jack, but also on activism for the disabled.
From when she was a little girl all Mandy Lattimore knew was to seize every opportunity to take part in adrenalin-packed sports. Whether it was through water or snow skiing, riding bikes and more, she tried all excitedly.
When she was 19 years old, while camping with family, a fall off a slippery rock, would have her dislocate her spine leaving her a paraplegic. Surrounded by a family that only knew to encourage her, left little room for her to wallow in the fear of what her life would be like after the freak accident.
Forty-four years later she still describes herself as an adrenalin junky and also an activist. She has made it her life’s work to make sure that all spaces are accessible to all. When she isn’t in boardrooms advocating for people who use wheelchairs, you are most likely to find her on Linden Bowling Club greens playing the sport she was introduced to by a friend about seven years ago. Getting into the sport was a quick and easy decision as not only did she find she was good at it, but it also required little assistance from others to participate.
In this she has managed to make a name for herself on any greens she finds herself on. a few years ago, she received her national colours having been selected to be a reserve at the Commonwealth Games and last year, she travelled to Brisbane, Australia where she played in an invitational game.
In May she will participate in the International Bowls for the Disabled World Championships that will take here in South Africa. “So often these championships happen abroad so it’s exciting that family and friends will now be able to see us take part.”
Lattimore has never allowed her disability to be an issue in her life as she is completely independent. Though there have been people within the sport that don’t enjoy people with disabilities to bowl. “But in all walks of life, we will come across people who have a prejudice against others.” As she describes, she is living her life despite her abilities. “People say, ‘you’re fantastic’ and to that, I say I am not, as we should all be living our life to the best of our abilities not what you have or do not have.”
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