[1] The small Caribbean island of Aruba did not have a Paralympic team until Aruban-born Shardea Arias de la Cru decided that there should be one.

[2] She had attended Colegio San Nicolas High School before she studied sport at the Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

Shardea decided to gather the support required to establish a committee to put forward a Paralympic team.

[2] She worked for the Ministry of Tourism, Public Health and Sports and she made contact with their existing Olympic committee.

[2] Shardea Arias de la Cru worked with Loostra as she sees it as a way of raising awareness of disability issues.