Yu Chui Yee

It's always a joy to report outstanding achievements of our campers and one such star, is our regular camper Yu Chui Yee.

Chui Yee has been with Camp Quality from the begining, she took up fencing just over one year ago and within that period, her achievements in this sport has been quite astonishing. She is currently ranked ninth in the world for Wheelchair Fencing and has represented HK twice overseas this year. The first time was in Lonato, Italy for the World Cup in which Chui Yee came second at the Women's Individual Foil (Cat.A) and second again at the Women's Individual Epee. (Cat. A). She will represent Hong Kong again in Budapest, Hungary this November.

Chui Yee was also awarded SDB Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards for her outstanding performance in the 2001 World Cup International Garda Wheelchair Fencing Tournament.

We wish her all the best for her future competitions and want to let her know that everyone at Camp Quality is so proud of her.

We were very privileged to be able to interview this up and rising star!, below are details of that interview.

Q: When did you discover you had cancer and what were your immediate feelings?

CY: I've always been an active kid, and it was during a sport's day event in 1995 that I discovered my knee had suddenly swollen. After various examinations, I was diagnosed as having bone cancer. At that time I was only 11 years old, too young and naive to know or even be afraid.

Q: During treatment, can you tell us about your most unforgettable experience?

CY: Being sick. Constant sickness because of the medication, besides the hair-loss, this has been the most unforgettable experience and even now, just talking about this makes it feel like it only happened yesterday.

Q: What made you decide to have your leg amputated?

CY: When it's either the lost of one leg or your life, then I think the choice is obvious. Of course it was not an easy decision to give up one leg! but I was told by the medical staff not to delay but just get it over and done with. After the operation, there were still many side-affects but on the positive aspect, I had the opportunity to start a new life.

Q: How important was the support from family and friends?

CY: My family supported me the most, especially my mother, she had to take care of me as well as put up with my tantrums. I believe she suffered far more than I did. The hospital social workers also helped in counseling me and made me realize I was not alone in this battle.

Q: You used to be a keen swimmer, what made you take up fencing?

CY: With swimming, you compete by how fast you can go before you reach the finish, but with fencing, there is a physical opponent which you must defeat in order to win. You are required to think about your strategy and tactics, therefore I find this sport more challenging and rewarding.

Q: What are your future plans now? Have you any plans to take up sports professionally?

CY: I haven't thought of this because I feel that a career in sports is rather short-lived. I want to be a lawyer and be able to help people in need. My present goal though will be able to take part in the 2008 Para Olympics in Beijing.

Note: The original article was written in Chinese but translated for the benefit of our English readers.