Te Awamutu’s Unity Collins doesn’t sit still for long. Whether it’s cycling, swimming, walking dogs, or strumming her ukulele at club nights, she’s always moving toward the next goal, and doing it her way.
With support from the Wellington Paraplegic and Physically Disabled Trust, Unity has continued to push herself in the sport she’s come to love: tandem cycling. Most recently, she competed in a race at Hampton Downs as part of her build-up for an upcoming trip to Belgium - a big step in her ongoing training and development as a para-cyclist.
The grant helped make this possible, and Unity says she’s deeply grateful for the opportunity to keep challenging herself through the sport.
In 2024, Unity became a national champion, winning gold in the BVI (tandem) road race at the Age Group Road Nationals in Hokitika, alongside her pilot and coach, Vicki Fleming. She also took bronze in the time trial. Since pairing with Vicki in 2021, Unity has made huge strides on the bike - and the partnership is built on trust, shared goals, and plenty of hard work.
Off the bike, Unity’s life is full and independent. She’s also a past Special Olympics medalist, a Tough Guy and Gal Challenge veteran, and an advocate for giving things a go - even when it means getting a face full of mud.
Unity lost her vision at age seven due to a detached retina. Since then, she’s adapted to life with determination and an unmistakable sense of humour.
With the Belgium race on the horizon and more competitions to come, Unity is showing no signs of slowing down. The Wellington Paraplegic and Physically Disabled Trust is proud to support her continued progress - on the bike and beyond.
