Campaign Ambassador - Emma Tammaro

Name: Emma Tammaro

Sports/Activities: Goalball

Locality: St Albans

Before losing my sight at 17 due to a brain tumour, football was a huge part of my life. Sport gave me confidence, identity and joy, so when my sight loss happened, everything changed. I stepped away from sport for almost two years, unsure of what I could do or where I belonged. It wasn’t until I attended a VI sports day that things shifted. There, I met Faye Dale-Cook, who introduced me to Goalball, a sport designed specifically for visually impaired athletes. I went along to a training session in Cambridge, and it opened many possibilities.

My journey with Goalball hasn’t been without its challenges. Transportation and financial barriers made getting to training difficult, and fatigue was something I had to learn to manage carefully, but the support I received from the Northern Allstars kept me going. Their encouragement helped me stay connected to the sport during times when I felt unsure.

Returning to Goalball, post covid, reminded me why I fell in love with it in the first place. It gave me purpose, routine and a team who understood the challenges of visual impairment but never let those challenges limit what we could achieve. Every session has helped rebuild my confidence and strengthen my ambition. I have been able to train as a PE teacher, supporting younger children to stay physically active and help them on their pathway in sport, but for me personally, my dream is to compete in the 2028 Summer Paralympics in Los Angeles. It’s a huge goal, but it’s one I’m determined to work towards every single day!