Don't Stop Me Now

Sian Townsend is your typical fresh faced adventurous 14-year-old.

The Noosa teenager loves surfing, snow ski-ing and more than anything mountain biking.

Like most, Sian got into mountain biking through her parents, and along with her twin sister, the family ride up to three times a week on their local trails around Tewantin in Queensland.

But it’s what Sian has had to overcome that makes her story remarkable.

Three years ago, she was diagnosed with epilepsy and experienced Tonic Clonic seizures and absent seizures which made it difficult to continue with her sport and everyday life.

“The seizures would leave me tired, disorientated and with painful joints and I was unable to compete.”

“I do struggle with hot weather, and those other things because of the medication so this means I have to take extra care of myself,” she said.

“I really love enduro downhill racing as I like to ride different terrain fast and my family and friends tell me I have no fear. It is a risk having Epilepsy, even though I have controlled seizures anything could happen.”

It took Sian and her family a year to find the right medication.

And it has made all the difference.

“When I found out I could ride again it was like I felt alive again as extreme sports is was makes me happy in life.”

“I really admire Tahnee Seegrave a rider for Redbull she has been my inspiration and we have talked a little on Instagram.”

“I would love to encourage anyone experiencing a hard time in any way to keep focused on what you want to do and don’t let anything stop you even if it takes a little longer to get to where you want to go.”

And Sian proved that in her very first Enduro race recently by taking top spot with her sister Nia second.