TO HAVE HER OWN LEG AMPUTATED IS HEADING FOR THE TOP
web
awesome after just 12 months in the sport, and there’s a lot more to come.
“There is only one place in Team GB for the Paralympics and at the moment I’m second in Britain in the women’s KL3 classification for athletes with trunk function and partial leg function.
“Final selection takes place in April so never say never, but even if I don’t make the next Games the future for me looks bright.”
Hope was within grasping distance of a place in the Scotland team at the Commonwealth Games as a swimmer, but her sporting ambitions reached a whole new level after she discovered her potential in canoeing. She finished fourth on her debut at the European Championships and fourth in her maiden World Cup race in Poland.
Recalling how she got into the sport, she said: “I was forwarded an email from twot ime Paralympic swimmer turned para- canoeist Charlotte Henshaw. It was an advert looking for new athletes, and by pure chance I fell into one of the categories A young person who has overcome adversity or disadvantage to excel at school, college or university, and shown exceptional dedication and enthusiasm despite their challenges.
A young person or group who have truly influenced they wanted. I went for trials and last summer I was invited to become part of the full-time programme with British Canoeing. “I’ve moved to Nottingham to train but try to get back to Scotland as often as I can to see my family. They are really chuffed about what I have achieved in a new sport in just under a year.” Hope, who graduated from Edinburgh’s Napier University with a degree in sport science and exercise, trains six days a week at the National Water Sports Centre. It’s a far cry from the dark days before her operation. She was 12 when a kickabout at school set off the neurological condition – complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). She said: “My leg basically stopped working. I went from being able to do anything I wanted to not being able to walk within the space of a day. “After a lot of fai led treatments and years of education in their community, either by providing access and opportunities for others or by influencing change.
Young Scots, through their effort and determination, are achieving extraordinary things in grassroots sport. This award celebrates sporting stars of the future.
Sponsored by Active Scotland, agony, being stuck in hospital for weeks at a time, I elected to have my leg amputated. But this went against the advice of doctors, who feared the pain could spread elsewhere even if they removed my leg.
“By 16 I was in a wheelchair and the pain was so bad I could not bear anything touching my leg.
“I knew couldn’t go on, so I sought out one of the few private surgeons in the country who would agree to carry out the procedure. The main snag was the £10,000 cost.
“I just set up a crowdfunding page and shared it on social media. The support I had was just unreal and in August 2016 I had my left leg amputated above the knee.
“My life changed for the better overnight. The pain the doctors feared would spread never happened and, touch wood, it never this award is for young people involved in supporting and inspiring others to improve their physical and mental health, looking to change policy or services, or involved in health charities.
A young person or group who are working tirelessly to promote equality, diversity and inclusion, or to challenge prejudice and discrimination
Sunday Mail
will. It’s 100 per cent the best decision I ever made, and I hope my case will see guidelines changed when it comes to CRPS and amputation.
“Every case is different and I would like doctors to see each person as an individual and assess their circumstances accordingly.”
Hope, who was also a champion rower before the operation, has a prosthetic leg but admits: “We are not real ly friends at the moment. It’s uncomfortable to wear and makes me frustrated but I’m sure I will get used to it in time.
“I get around great on my crutches, and as I’m in and out of a canoe all day it would be a hindrance if I wore it all the time.” Hope is keen to help other amputees through her work as an ambassador with Finding Your Feet– the charity set up by quadruple amputee and on grounds of age, race, gender, culture or identity.
A young person’s contribution to arts and culture in Scotland. Are they inspiring others to express themselves through arts, or making a difference to their community?
Sponsored by Stagecoach, and not just for the famous, but for the young stars in our midst Sunday Mail Great Scot winner Corinne Hutton. She said: “As a new amputee, it was great to chat to other people who had been through the same thing. They provide a service no one else can, as they can answer the practical questions only other amputees know the answers to.” Hope is also delighted with her You n g Scot nom i n a t i o n . She said: “I feel very humbled and honoured. I ’ ve met so many incredible young people recently who have been doing their country proud, and I hope I can continue to do that.” Do you know someone as talented and worthy as Hope? If so, nominate them today in one of the 13 categories listed below this story and they could succeed gay education rights campaigner Jordan Daly, who won the overall award in 2018. Nominations are open unti l February 23 and the winners will be named at a star-studded ceremony at Edinburgh’s EICC on April 23. who entertain us every day.
Do you know a young person or a group of young people who give their time and effort to help protect the world for future generations? This award is for them.
This award is for a young person or business run by young people who have shown entrepreneurial flair.