Jennifer's Story - Moving Forward

For Jennifer, staying active has always been about much more than exercise.

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A doctor by profession, Jennifer has been living with a disability for a number of years following a nerve injury sustained in an accident. Determined to continue challenging herself, she began exploring disabled sports in 2008, searching for activities that gave her the same excitement and sense of achievement she had experienced before her injury.

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"I wanted to find things that gave me the same feelings as I had when competing before the accident."

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After trying a variety of sports, Jennifer discovered that individual events suited her best. Living with chronic pain in her left leg meant she didn't want her condition to affect teammates, and competing independently allowed her to adapt at her own pace.

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Her sporting journey led her to the Invictus Games, where she competed in the triathlon, taking on hand cycling, swimming and wheelchair racing.

Kayaking soon became another passion. Jennifer was selected to represent her country internationally, but just before the competition, life took another unexpected turn.

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In June 2023, she was diagnosed with cancer, which affected her left arm and prevented her from competing.

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Rather than allowing another setback to define her, Jennifer adapted once again. She shifted her focus towards inclusive sport, recognising that it supported not only her physical health but also her mental wellbeing.

Today, she continues to enjoy adaptive kayaking, has even taught a blind man to kayak, and trains regularly at a local CrossFit gym that embraces adaptive athletes. She is also preparing to take part in an upcoming fundraising challenge for the Matt Hampson Foundation.

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Having experienced disability, rehabilitation and changing circumstances over many years, Jennifer has witnessed first-hand how inclusive sport and adaptive technology continue to evolve, opening doors for more people than ever before.

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Jennifer’s advice to anyone living with a disability or long-term health condition is simple:

"Try new things."

"Never say no to an opportunity because you never know where it may lead."

"Find opportunities and stay fit."

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Jennifer's story reminds us that moving forward doesn't always mean following the same path. Sometimes it means discovering a completely new one.

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