VISITORS to the Cornwall Motor Show got to meet a Paralympic hopeful as a Nissan dealership laid on an interactive exhibition stand for the county’s biggest automotive event of the year.
Double World Champion paratriathlete Melissa Reid was the star guest at the Town and Country Nissan stand where she talked to people about her preparations for Rio 2016.
Melissa, who has a high level of visual impairment, is being supported by the Nissan dealership, based in Marazanvose, near Truro, through Nissan’s partnership with the British Paralympic Association. The dealership has given her family the free use of a Nissan Qashqai to transport her to training sessions and competitions around the country.
As well as chatting about her ambitions, Melissa also helped with the Nissan Racing Wheelchair Experience, where visitors could see what it is like to take part in a Paralympic wheelchair race.
Melissa, from Truro, said: “I had a fantastic weekend meeting visitors to the Town and Country Nissan stand and talking about my hopes for next year.
“Many of those who visited loved having a go on the wheelchair experience. It really brought it home to people the hard work that goes into Paralympic sports.”
Melissa began competing in 2011 and has enjoyed a stellar rise to the top of her sport, which involves a 750m swim tied to the ankle of her guide, a 20km tandem bike ride and a 5km run tied to her guide at the waist.
Para-triathlon will feature in the Paralympic Games for the first time at Rio 2016.
Mick Wheeler, Sales Executive at Town and Country Nissan, said: “We had a great time at the Cornwall Motor Show and our stall was one of the best attended. Melissa was a delight to have around over the two days – she loved talking to the visitors and explaining how we’ve helped her and just how she plans to reach Rio.”
The Cornwall Motor Show – held at Heartlands in Pool, just off the A30 – was organised by the West Briton, The Cornishman and Cornish Guardian stable of newspapers.
The partnership between the dealership and Melissa was formed through Nissan’s role as the Official Automotive Partner of ParalympicsGB and Team GB on the road to the Rio 2016 Paralympic and Olympic Games. As part of this, Nissan has launched their ‘Be the heartbeat of Britain’ campaign, which will unite fans behind British athletes, celebrating their passion and engaging the nation in the build up to the Games.
Fans can follow the campaign through the hashtag #UniteAndExcite or at www.nissan.co.uk/uniteandexcite
