Amee Garala

Say the word cheerleader and most of us picture scantily- clad American girls jumping up and down before heading home for a slice of mom's apple pie.

But in Peterborough there is a cheerleading group just for young people with disabilities. They might have a range of learning, sensory or physical disabilities, but these kids know exactly how to wave their pom poms.

But this is a recent thing, thanks to Amee Garala,

Peterborough City Council's development officer for disability sports, who also cheerleads with the Great Britain squad.

She's done a lot, considering she's only 23, but is passionate about and deeply committed to her work.

"Some people have fixed ideas about what disabled young people can achieve, but I don't have those fixed ideas," she said.

Laura Ward

Laura is a student on the Independence to Work course at Peterborough Regional College.

She missed a great deal of secondary education due to a medical condition – Bernard Soulier Syndrome, an extremely rare and life-threatening blood disorder.

This disruption left her isolated and extremely lacking in self confidence.

When she first came to college she was exceptionally shy and found it difficult to believe in herself. But after two years, she is a well established member of the college and has taken part in a work placement, given a presentation before a large group, written a number of scripts for herself and her friends, attended interviews independently, applied for jobs and courses independently, befriended new students and acted as a "buddy".

Lauren Steadman

Sawtry swimmer Lauren Steadman has been selected to represent her country in this year's Paralympics in Beijing.

The 15-year-old member of Huntingdon Piranhas has made rapid progress and will line up in the freestyle events over 50m, 100m and 400m, determind to swim faster than she has ever done before.

Lauren has not let her prosthetic right arm hold her back. Last year she won a scholarship to the renowned Kelly College in Devon, was accepted on the British Swimming World Class Athletics Development programme and had a call-up to the GB squad.

She said: "Success is like climbing a mountain – always focusing on what lies ahead, but now and again you have to look back at how far you have come.

"I realise just how much I have achieved. I am concentrating on continuing to try to beat my personal bests and becoming faster and fitter, and hoping to improve further."

Related: Meet more Women of Achievement Awards 2008 finalists | Full Women of Achievement Awards coverage - www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/woa