It’s an exciting time for Londoners as the greatest sporting event in our history takes shape. We will welcome millions of visitors to the capital and the UK in 2012 for an unforgettable experience. Thousands of talented, hands-on people are helping London prepare for the 2012 Games. We go behind the scenes to talk to one of these lucky people, Sports Disability Nurse Ellen MacDougall….

When did you realise your talents were suited  to nursing?
I knew I’d picked the right path really early on in my Higher National Diploma. One of my first placements was in a ward with elderly people – even though it was emotional and tough, I loved it.

What made you decide  to choose nursing?
I knew I liked helping people.  I used to go shopping for an old lady on Saturdays, and I liked that feeling of making a difference.

How do you get  into nursing?
You can find nursing courses now where you work as an auxillary nurse for a year before you start your training. It’s a great way to see if nursing is for you.

Why did you get involved in disability sports nursing?
I had a fantastic mentor who worked in disability sport and they put me forward for my first trip to America for the games in 1996.

Tell us about some of  your experiences at  the Paralympics
In 2006, I was the first nurse to go with the team to the Winter Paralympics. It's a much smaller event than the summer games and that really brought us all together.

Career path
Health and  Community Care
Nursing was a module in this initial course I took  at college.

Adult Nursing
You gain lots of practical experience when you train to be an adult nurse.

Spinal Cord Injury Courses
This is an area I decided  I wanted to specialise in.