Elizabeth Ferris (wheelchair rugby)
Elizabeth O. V. Ferris BEM (born c. 1986) is a former Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League international[1][2] and medical doctor. She is the founder of Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club SCIO[3] in Dundee, Scotland.
Early life and education[]
Ferris was born in Northern Ireland[4][5] She attended Rainey Endowed School, Magherafelt[6] and after leaving in 2003 went on to study medicine at the University of Dundee. A spinal cord injury during her studies rendered her paralyzed from the waist down.[7] She was the first full-time wheelchair user to graduate from the University of Dundee School of Medicine[8][9]
Wheelchair rugby career[]
During rehabilitation after her spinal injury Ferris was introduced to the sport of wheelchair rugby league[10] She was selected to represent Scotland at the 2013 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup[11] and has served as both Manager and Chair of Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League[12]
She founded[13] the Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club in 2013 as there were no facilities in Tayside for team based wheelchair sport.[14]
Honors and awards[]
- Recipient of the Dundee City Disability Sport Jenny Wood-Allen Award in 2014[15]
- Appointed Ambassador for Spinal Injuries Scotland[16]
- Honorary Fellowship from Abertay University, Dundee in 2017[17]
- Awarded the University of Dundee’s Wimberley Award upon graduating from her medical degree.[9]
- In 2020 Ferris was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to Disability Sport in Scotland.[3][18][19]
- In 2021 Ferris was named as one of Britain’s 100 Most Influential Disabled People with her inclusion in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List. [20]
References[]
- ^ Reporter, Dundee Evening Telegraph (September 13, 2014). "Scotland Wheelchair Rugby Team Thanks Generous Dundee Firm". Dundee Evening Telegraph. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ Rugby League, Scotland. "Scotland Rugby League Wheelchair Squad Records". Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ a b Adams, Hannah (October 13, 2020). "Dundee Graduate Makes Honours List For Services to Disability Sport in Scotland". University of Dundee, One Dundee Blog. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ SIS Newsline, Spinal Injuries Scotland (March 1, 2015). "Of Dragons and Doctors" (PDF). Spinal Injuries Scotland. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
- ^ "Meet Our Founder. Excerpt from 2014 Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton Bearer BBC Documentary". Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club Website. July 21, 2014. Retrieved Nov 2, 2020.
- ^ Rainey Endowed School, Past Pupils (October 10, 2020). "Congratulations Elizabeth Ferris". Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ Spinal Injuries Association, Forward Magazine (April 2, 2014). "Elizabeth Overcomes Her Biggest Hurdle" (PDF). Retrieved November 2, 2020.
- ^ Holland, Nathaniel (March 8, 2018). "International Women's Day Player Profile". Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
- ^ a b Longmuir, Cara (June 26, 2017). "Medical Student Defies The Odds To Become A Doctor". University of Dundee, University News. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ Dragons, Dundee (September 7, 2020). "Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club Newsletter Issue 1" (PDF). Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club Website. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
- ^ 2014, Glasgow. "BATONBEARER SPOTLIGHT - ELIZABETH FERRIS". Retrieved November 1, 2020.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
- ^ Rugby League, Scotland (November 23, 2016). "Scotland Rugby League Wheelchair Board Member Opportunities". Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ Scotland, Compute (June 23, 2017). "Dundee Dragons Founder Graduates as Doctor". Retrieved November 2, 2020.
- ^ Black, Ian G (May 18, 2016). "Interview: Elizabeth Ferris Chairperson of Dundee Wheelchair Sports Club and Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League". YouTube. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ McGinley, Kevin (February 25, 2015). "Sport Dundee 2014 Sports Awards". Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ Spinal Injuries Scotland, Spinal Life (July 1, 2018). "SIS Spinal Life Summer 18" (PDF). Retrieved November 2, 2020.
- ^ Abertay, University Of (May 17, 2017). "Fellowship for Disability Sports Pioneer". University of Abertay. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ Crichton, Emma (October 9, 2020). "In Full Tayside and Fife Pandemic Heroes Among Those Named in Queens Birthday Honours List". The Courier. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
- ^ HM Government, Cabinet Office (October 9, 2020). "2020 Queen's Birthday Honours List". Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ "Dr Elizabeth Ferris BEM Shaw Trust". Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- British wheelchair rugby players
- Alumni of the University of Dundee
- People from County Londonderry
- Recipients of the British Empire Medal
- Founders of sporting institutions
- 1980s births
- Living people