Carol CookeCarol was born in Canada in 1961. She worked as a police officer in Canada for 14 years, including 4 years undercover with the drug squad. Carol was devastated when diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1998. By 2001, she was using a wheelchair full-tme. However, through regular exercise and Botox injections in her legs, Carol not only regained the ability to walk, but took up competitive rowing and cycling. Carol was a former national swimmer in Canada. In 2006, she took up rowing, having been identified at a Paralympic Talent Search Day. She proved a natural on the water, narrowly missing out on a position on the Beijing 2008 team but placing sixth at the 2009 World Rowing Championships. Carol switched sports to cycling with a plan to make the London 2012 Paralympic team. Carol achieved her goal when she was named in the Australian Paralympic team for London 2012. In London, years of toil paid off. Carol won a gold medal in the Mixed Time Trial T1-2 event. In 2013 at the World Para Cycling Championships, Carol became a Dual World Champion and backed it up in 2014. Since being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, Carol has dedicated her working life to raising awareness and funds for MS. She developed and still leads the operation of the 24 Hour Mega Swim event, dedicated to raising money for MS. In 2014, Carol was honoured with an Australia Day Award which named her a 'Member' of the Order of Australia (AM) for her service to sport and philanthropy. Carol lives the philosophy that you must dare to face your fears and believe in yourself. She says that you have to have the Courage to take a Chance to make a Change. It is advice she shares through her work as an inspiring motivational speaker telling of her incredible life story and through her book Cycle of Life - a Gold Medal Paralympian's Secrets to Success. Read More Read Less