A TEENAGER from Blackburn competed in the UK’s biggest track and field event for blind and partially sighted children, after being inspired by the Commonwealth Games.

Samantha Leecy, 15, was one of 100 visually impaired youngsters to compete in the Actionnaires Ath-letics Day, which was hosted in Sheffield by the Action for Blind People charity.

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The Our Lady and St John Catholic Arts College pupil competed in the sprint events, long jump and javelin, against teenagers from about 20 towns and cities across the Midlands and North of England.

Samantha, who is partially sighted and lives in Queen’s Park, is a member of Blackburn’s Action-naries club, which helps visually impaired children get involved in sport.

She said: “I had a wonderful time. This year’s Commonwealth Games has made me want to do even more sport.

“I’ve made some new friends today, and met up with my friends from last year.”

Lesley Inganni, operations manager at Action for Blind People, said: “Samantha and the other children were so excited about the event, as many don’t get to participate in sport at all outside of their local Action-naires clubs.

“It was an opportunity to sample a range of sports for the first time, helping them to understand that sight loss isn’t a barrier to fun, competitions and social activities.

“This was the eighth year that the event has taken place. We’re extremely grateful to have Boots Opticians and Topcon Ophthalmic Equipment as sponsors, and the support of British Blind Sport.

“Every year it gets bigger and better, and with parallel success coordinators from British Athletics attending, some of these children could even be our Paralympians of the future.”