Lomond School pupil shows Helensburgh no challenge is out of reach

Just four years ago, Yannick Embley had never been to school, or left the orphanage in China where his parents met him.

Now, aged 12, he is making waves and scaling new heights to prove he can do anything.

"I love to challenge myself to find out what I am able to do," Yannick told the Advertiser.

His parents were volunteering at an orphanage in Shanghai when they first met him. They already had two other adopted children, and decided to add Yannick to their family of seven just before Covid hit.

Yannick has spina bifida and is a full-time wheelchair user - and while that's something that might hold some people back, for Yannick, a pupil at the town's Lomond School, it has opened a door to a world of sport.

In swimming classes, he uses his upper body strength to do freestyle, butterfly, breast stroke and backstroke.

He also took up wheelchair basketball with the Scottish National Academy, and was selected to play for the U14 Scotland squad earlier this month in Worcester.

The Scotland team took silver and bronze medals at the event.

"I am using a wheelchair full time and my upper body strength is growing so it is good to try lots of sports," said the S1 pupil.

"I love basketball and swimming. But last term I went sailing with Lomond School and that was really cool."

Proud mum Sally said: "We have always encouraged him to have a go, be brave and work hard. He always rises to a challenge.

"He definitely finds it hard sometimes, like climbing a 10-metre gym rope using just his upper body. But he worked at it all summer until he could do it.

"We encourage him to be totally independent, and if something is difficult physically then we discuss possible solutions that will have minimal support."

Yannick joined Lomond School as a boarder at Christmas - and sport is far from the only string to his bow.

He has his Grade 3 piano certificate, and took up the bagpipes just seven months ago.

By June, he was busking in Helensburgh town centre to raise money for a children's charity in Zambia, supported by the school.

The Luwanga Project helps children there go to school, and the money raised was delivered by two Lomond teachers over the summer.

Yannick said: "People have been so kind and generous. I raised £150 for a charity for children in Zambia, to support them going to school.

"There are lots of nice people in Helensburgh and I think it is beautiful. Colquhoun Square is a great busking spot, where I had shade under a tree while the sun shone."

Yannick and his family are hoping to find a swim coach in Helensburgh to work with him, and potential local businesses to sponsor him continuing his basketball career.

Sally said: "We are delighted that Yannick is at Lomond. They have been fantastic at taking him to activities and encouraging him to be independent.

"He loves the school and as parents we couldn’t be happier he is there with his sister Ophelia, 13, and brother Uriel, 16."

This month Yannick has been taking part in the 100-mile 'Wheel 100 Challenge' for Cancer Research UK, having completed 82 miles and raised £188 so far.

So how does he push himself to do more in a few months than many might try in a lifetime?

"My family are very encouraging, especially my mum," he said.

"They support me to attend different sessions across Scotland. All sports help keep my body strong and all my joints mobile.

"I also love meeting lots of new people and always feel better and happier after sport.

"Sometimes I don’t look forward to the long drive to get places, but I am always happy when I have done it.

"I would say to others, 'enjoy it and have fun'."

If a 10-metre rope, a 100-mile wheel challenge, and busking in Helensburgh aren't goals enough for a 12-year-old, what are Yannick's dreams for the future?

"My dream is to be a musician or a Paralympian for Scotland," he said, "because in basketball I play for the U14 national academy and I also play bagpipes and piano.

"I’d also like to have lots of friends!"