Coopa is nine years old and has Cerebral Palsy, she is a framed-user participant within the Foundation and attends weekly sessions to take part in her favourite activity with her favourite team – football training and Leeds United.

During Learning Disability Week 2021, the club vowed to learn more about the youngster who despite living with a disability, always has a smile on her face. Coopa has trained with the club’s official charity for three years and continues to improve during each session, she is also a massive Leeds United supporter, with plenty of kits and a bedroom decked out with items from the official Leeds United shop.

Learning Disability Week helps to raise awareness around the issues that are important to people with disabilities, shining a light on the daily struggles they may have to overcome and how others can show their support.

Coopa takes part in a number of different activities every week to help improve her mobility, but football has always been her favourite: “My weeks are always busy as I have loads of exercise to do, football, physio, swimming and loads of other stuff and it’s really fun. I love the sessions with Leeds United so much though because I just feel free and there’s no limits, you can just learn and learn and learn.

“I really love Leeds United because even if they don’t score, they will always come back stronger and improve, they are just the best team in the world.”

Coopa’s parents Wayne and Louise Ellis Adams are especially grateful for the role the Foundation and club play in Coopa’s life: “She doesn’t let her condition stop her doing anything, like with football she will always give something a go but there are obviously certain things that she can’t do and that’s when it can start getting her down.

“The Foundation is great for her as it’s really good physio and exercise for her without her even knowing she’s working because she enjoys it so much. It’s also the one thing she does with children that have the same condition and the same abilities, and I think that’s why she looks forward to going to the sessions so much.”

Emily Wilby is a physiotherapist who has worked with Coopa every week since her last operation took place: “Coopa had a big operation about four years ago called selective dorsal rhizotomy, which is where there’s part of her nerve roots that are cut to try and get rid of that high muscle tone, stiffness and tightness.

“I’ve been working with Coopa since the operation on her walking, her balance and her strength, trying to build her back up to achieve all of the amazing goals that she wants to achieve – she is always working hard and is so positive, she really is an inspiration to other young girls.”

Sport and physical activity are essential for improving both our physical and mental wellbeing, and they can also help to reduce the feeling of loneliness and isolation for people with and without a disability. The Leeds United Foundation have an inclusive approach to the programmes they deliver, providing extra support and increasing the opportunities that are available for young people and adults who have a disability, enabling them to be able to play their favourite sports, improve their skills and reach their targets.

Anthony Hall, Disability Officer with the club’s official charity, said: “The sessions that Coopa attends is specifically for young children that have cerebral palsy or are framed users, and it’s about helping them to mobilise around the pitch. The kids come along for coaching, they’ll do a warm-up, some training and then we get into a game and we always make sure it’s really fun for them. If we’re able to make the children happy then it shows we’re doing something right, that’s what we’re here for.

“Coopa is definitely one of the stars here, she’s very passionate about Leeds United and she’s very much a young person that is a role model – we’re really proud of how far she’s come, and I know she’ll continue developing and improving.”

Please take a look at the video that showcases a day in the life of Coopa, by clicking here.

If you would like more information on the disability programmes being delivered through the Leeds United Foundation, please contact [email protected].