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Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson is a Welsh politician, television presenter, charitable patron, but is best known for an incredibly successful career as a Wheelchair Racer for the British Paralympic Team!

Tanni was born on 26th July 1969 in Cardiff, Wales and christened 'Carys Davina'. When her two-year-old sister, Sian, first sees her, she nicknamed her 'tiny', and very shortly afterwards it becomes Tanni.

Born with spina bifida, Tanni is a wheelchair user, but determined to find out for herself what she and could not do, she found a love for sport at school.

At age 13 she found her passion in Wheelchair Racing, and qualified for the British National Wheelchair Racing Squad by the age of 17. By 1988, Tanni had qualified for the Paralympics and took part in the Seoul’s Games, winning a Bronze medal for the 400m, and in Barcelona Olympics in 1992 she won 4 Gold medals for the 100, 200, 400 and 800m races.

In total, in her racing career, between 1984 and 2007, Tanni won a total of 16 Paralympic medals including 11 Golds; held over 30 world records and 13 World Championship medals. But even during her career, Tanni was also a key advocate, trustee and board member of the National Disability Council, The Sports Council for Wales and UK Sport. Since her retirement she has chaired UK Active, sat on the board of Transport for London, The London Marathon and is now a patron of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, an award we of course love at JLGB, and she is a UNICEF Ambassador!

I could go on, and list for hours, Tanni’s involvement in Civil Society, her achievements, and the recognition she has received for it, but we want to hear from her.

But we must of course mention she was made a Dame in 2005 for her contribution to sport and beyond and then in 2010, she was awarded a life peerage in the House of Lords, as Baroness of Eaglescliff.

We are so privileged that she has found the time to speak to us, so without much further ado. Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome tonight’s honoured guest, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson!