The M4 Business Network’s 2013 event calendar was drawn to a close by home-grown Paralympic Athletes Aled Davies MBE and Nathan Stephens.

While the capacity audience of 250 Welsh business people couldn’t rival the 80,000 spectators of the London 2012 stadium, the sportsmen from Bridgend painted a striking picture of their journeys to the top of their disciplines.

Nathan Stephens, was first to detail his journey, starting with the tragic accident on his ninth birthday that resulted in the loss of his legs. Eleven weeks later the determined young sportsman was back in school. Aged 13 he was discovered by Disability Sport Wales who introduced Stephen to the sport he loves, discus.

National junior and British senior championships medals followed. The year 2006 saw Stephens compete in his first Paralympic Games followed by the 2008 summer Games in Beijing and a world record in 2011.

Steven’s expressed his gratitude to the sponsors and corporate supporters who helped every Paralympian receive the recognition they deserved at the London Games. He then told how his medal chances were dashed when a judging error resulted in him not placing among the medals in London, yet the sportsman demonstrated his sheer determination to his audience:

“I’ve dealt with a lot worse in my life. I’ve come back from losing my legs so, it wasn’t going to stop me,” he told the gather business representatives.

Aled Davies, who took bronze and gold at the London Games, explained how the disability which required doctors to break his leg shortly after his birth, failed to impede his sporting goals. Again, it was Disability Sport Wales which introduced Aled to his athletics career at the age of 14.

At 17 Aled gained his first Great Britain vest winning double gold medals and a world record at the Junior World Championships. Numerous medals, titles and records followed in the years running up to London 2012, Aled’s first Paralympic Games. He described how a home advantage and the support felt of the crowds helped him gain bronze in shot put, but he was set on gold in the discus, which he achieved with a European record throw.

Commenting on the conclusion of the 2013 calendar, John Griffiths, audit partner at UHY Peacheys, the M4 Business Network’s main sponsor:

“It has been a successful year for the network. Successful events have seen our membership grow and we are proud to have had leading local businesses and institutions join as sponsors.

“Today was a particularly proud moment for the club. We’re incredibly grateful to Aled and Steven for speaking. I’m convinced their inspirational stories struck a chord with every audience member. They’re testament to the calibre of speaker our members have come to expect of the club.

“I’d personally like to thank Disability Sport Wales for their contribution to the event. Their work has led to Wales producing the highest proportion of paralympic athletes per head of population worldwide and I hope that the money raised here today will continue their cause.”

The M4 Business Network has established itself as one of the premier networking organisations in south Wales, attracting members from along the M4 corridor. Current sponsors of the club include UHY Peacheys Chartered Accountants, the South Wales Argus, University of South Wales, Working Word, Barclays Business, Thomas Carroll, The Celtic Manor, Carbon Financial Planning, Newport City Council, McAlister & Co Insolvency Practitioners, Harding Evans Solicitors, South Wales Chamber of Commerce and Business Wales.