After smashing stereotypes to triumph in her own sports, vision-impaired para-athlete Lily Piccolo wants to empower others by launching Australia’s first Camp Abilities in the Illawarra.
The Shellharbour para-cyclist and triathlete recently spent time in the US as a coach and volunteer at the 2025 Camp Abilities, an educational sports camp for children with visual and sensory impairments.
Inspired by her time at the State of New York University in Brockport, where Camp Abilities has run for the past 30 years, Lily is now on a mission to start a local version of the life-changing children’s event.
“It has always been a dream of mine to start some sort of recreational camp for visually impaired kids," Lily says. "I wanted to see how the camp was run so I could emulate it with an Aussie flavour here at home.”
The US camp, held from June 29 to July 5 this year, brought together about 50 children aged from nine to 19. It offered one-on-one coaching and the chance for participants to try a range of sports, including swimming, cycling, running and athletics, tennis, soccer, goal ball, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and fitness.
The aim is to empower children to be physically active and productive members of their schools, teaching that "a loss of sight is never a loss of vision".
Lily says Camp Abilities is the only opportunity for many visually impaired children in the US to participate in sports as they are often excluded from mainstream school sports. The programs demonstrate how simple adaptations – such as placing a bell in a soccer ball (for the sport of goal ball) – can open up a whole new sporting world.
“The camp creates a safe space allowing the children to really thrive," Lily says. "They don’t feel different as many of the coaches are vision-impaired too.”
Lily is determined to “smash stereotypes” and leads a full life despite a rare eye disease that has rendered her legally blind in her 20s. She is a champion tandem cyclist, having competed at a national level; last year she trekked the Camino Way; and, most recently, she enjoyed snow-skiing during the 2025 Ski for Light, a week-long annual cross-country skiing event in Colorado, USA.
Next on Lily's to-do list is to complete the 155km-long Bondi2Berry charity bike ride which raises funds and awareness for dementia research – it is being held this year on November 15. In 2026, she is hoping to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, a gruelling five-day trek up a mountain. The trail is challenging for anyone, and Lily will be doing the climbing herself, with only directional help from her guide.
Lily's goal is to have Camp Abilities Australia up and running in the Illawarra by January 2027. She is currently speaking to local Rotary clubs about her plans, and says they seem keen to get onboard. She would also like to collaborate with other local community groups to help the camp become a reality.
For further information, visit www.lilypiccolo.com
