Disability Advocate George Sullivan Honored as BBC East Unsung Hero

A champion for disability inclusion has received the BBC East Sport Personality of the Year – Unsung Hero award. George Sullivan, a resident of Peterborough, lives with a severe sight impairment and dedicates considerable effort to assist others in the sport of goalball, including the establishment of a new team. The 31-year-old began experiencing vision loss at the age of nine, having grown up in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. “Winning this award is my biggest ever achievement,” he stated, further adding: “Helping others who have been on the same journey as me to enjoy playing sport really makes me smile.” Goalball is a team sport for visually-impaired participants, where goals are scored by bowling a ball along the floor marked with tactile lines. The ball contains internal bells which help players locate it. Mr. Sullivan’s vision began to diminish due to a condition known as Stickler Syndrome. He also experienced the loss of his mother at the age of 11, and his sight rapidly deteriorated over the subsequent 10 years. Presently, his vision is limited to shadows and a perception of light. “It was a big mental health battle,” he recounts. “Some days I could see quite well and others days I could see nothing at all. “There were times when I wished it would just go one way or the other.”It’s only recently that I’ve finally accepted that this is how it is for me, and to embrace it. “It was like a lightbulb going on in my head.”” Mr. Sullivan has been involved in goalball for nearly 15 years. He previously played for Cambridge and is now working to establish a “showdown” team in the university city, a sport that combines elements of table tennis and air hockey. “I just think it’s really important to promote these sports for visually impaired people,” he asserts. “There’s a sport out there for everyone and they might not know about it.” He is also employed by the charity Herts Vision Loss, where he assists visually impaired individuals in obtaining work and training. As a volunteer, he supports the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) with their social media platforms. As an avid Arsenal fan, Mr. Sullivan enjoys spending as much time as possible at the Emirates Stadium and hosts a podcast titled The Arsenal Women Chat Show. He recently campaigned for the provision of headsets with audio commentary at all Arsenal matches held at the Emirates and their Meadow Park ground in Borehamwood. Warren Wilson, the Community Connection Co-ordinator for the RNIB, described George as “a force to be reckoned with.” “George has been an integral force in campaigning to make mainstream sport accessible for blind and partially sighted people,” he commented. “He’s made a huge difference to the lives of people with sight loss.” However, Mr. Sullivan also has another notable connection. His grandfather was Lennie Peters, from the ‘Welcome Home’ hitmakers, Peters and Lee. The pop duo were widely recognized in the 1970s and 1980s. “I know he was very famous, but I’m not one to boast about it,” Mr. Sullivan states. “My nan used to sing ‘Welcome Home’ whenever I got back from school or from the shops. “It’s a proud part of our family history.”” As the BBC East winner, Mr. Sullivan will be one of 15 finalists hoping to secure the national Unsung Hero title at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available for review.