A HEALTHCARE employee ploughed to victory when he took part in the North West Special Olympics Alpine Ski event.

Cameron de Vial, an office assistant at Rock Healthcare’s GP practices in Bury and Radcliffe, who has a moderate learning disability, took home two bronze medals following the races held at Ski Rossendale.

The event was organised by Rossendale Special Ski Club and saw skiers competing from the Grampian region, West Midlands, Surrey and East Anglia.

Thirty-eight young people took part in events including slalom and grand slalom in novice, intermediate and advanced categories. Athletes must have an IQ of less than 75 to compete in the event.

Cameron, 23, was placed third on two occasions in the advanced category.

The ski club, which caters for those with learning disabilities, is close to the hearts of everyone at Rock Healthcare as practice nurse Alison de Vial, Cameron’s mum, is chairman of the group.

Rock Healthcare supports the club regularly and paid the piste fees for the Olympic ski event.

Alison said: “It was an amazing experience and most people went home with a medal, although winning wasn’t the focus.

“As a parent of a child with learning disabilities it can be difficult because they’re always behind compared with mainstream children but on the ski slope they can compete and events like this really give them their chance to shine.”

Rossendale Special Ski Club is an associate member of Special Olympics, the world’s largest organisation for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Paul Massey, director of practice management at Rock Healthcare said they were keen to grow their partnership with the club.

“We like to support our employees and we are proud of Cameron’s success and congratulate him on his medals which he has brought in to show us.”