GAVIN HENSON’S COMING HOME IN DRAGONS DEAL
OWEN WILLIAMS on how he’s been humbled by fundraising for him as he aims to help others who have been injured through sport
FOR Owen Williams, life is about looking forward, not back these days. It’s some three years now since the Welsh international centre suffered the devastating injury which was to change everything for him.
Playing for Cardiff Blues in the World Club Tens out in Singapore, he sustained serious spinal damage in a freak incident which was to leave him paralysed from the chest down and wheelchair-bound.
It’s the kind of tragic misfortune which might easily make a person bitter towards the game of rugby and life in general and resentful at the hand fate has dealt them.
But the way Williams has coped with his situation has been a true inspiration and, especially so, with the work he is embarking on now.
Through the establishment of the Stay Strong For Ows Foundation, the 25-year-old will be looking to help others who have suffered similar sporting injuries.
He knows from personal experience just how important such support is, with the rugby community having come to his aid in remarkable fashion since his accident in June 2014.
There have been long-distance bike rides and dinners to raise funds for his continuing care, while Blues supporter Gavin Lewis swam the English Channel last year in an epic 15-hour effort.
Fellow rugby players around the world have shown their support with the ‘O’ finger-shape in his honour sweeping the game - while former team-mates have played a big part in backing the campaign.
The fund-raising has helped Williams move into a purpose-built house in his home town of Aberdare, which he says has made a huge difference to his life.
To get an idea of just how much rugby has rallied around him, you only had to be at last week’s third annual Stay Strong For Ows fundraising dinner at the Arms Park.
Jeremy Guscott, Martyn Williams and former Ireland star Donncha O’Callaghan took part in a Q&A session, with none of them asking a fee, while Brian O’Driscoll donated a signed Lions jersey for the auction.
In all, the packed dinner raised more than £30,000, which was a huge effort and speaks volumes for how people have been moved by his situation.
He admits he has been blown away by the whole SSFO campaign and by the support he has received.
“It’s humbling. It sometimes gets emotional to see the lengths people go to for a bit of fund-raising for me,” he said.
“It means a hell of a lot and I am really grateful.
“When I think about it, it blows my mind really the support I’ve had.
“When I was in Rookwood, I was having cards from different places, different countries, people saying they are behind me and if I needed anything or needed help they are always there for me.
“I was getting messages from families who had gone through similar scenarios themselves. They were offering support, anything they could do.
“It’s just really humbling and I’m so grateful.
“There are times when I get emotional at the support I’ve had and seen what people have gone through.”
The four-times capped Williams has received particularly strong backing from his former team-mates who have rallied round him and been there for him throughout the last three years.
That was evident at the dinner, when he was surrounded on his table by the likes of Blues pals Lloyd Williams, Macauley Cook and Ellis Jenkins, as well Thomas Young, who he grew up with in Aberdare.
“I have really come to see who my deepest friends are,” said Owen.
“When there is a bad accident, you see everybody in rugby get behind fellow people in the sport.
“It’s not just all about rugby, it’s about your family as well. They have had a tough time of it, but they have always been here for me, staying positive around me.
“Me not playing rugby now is heartbreaking, but I have still got my family and I’ve still got other things in life to look forward to.”
Williams’ life-changing injury was sustained in a collision during a play-off match against the AsiaPacific Dragons at Singapore’s National Stadium in the Tens tournament.
He suffered significant damage to his cervical vertebrae and spinal cord, leaving him with no feeling in his legs or torso and just limited sensation in his arms.
It was a hugely traumatic time for his team-mates and, of course, for his family.
His father Huw, who has joined in the fund-raising bike rides to both Paris to Amsterdam, reflected on the immediate aftermath of the incident during last week’s dinner.
“It didn’t sink in for a long time and obviously going to Singapore to
initially see him after his injury was a tough time,” he said.
“It was very tough for the family. Words couldn’t describe how tough it was, to be honest.
“It was mind-blowing. But the support from the Stay Strong For Ows campaign has just been brilliant.”
Campaign committee member Brynmor Williams – the father of Wales scrum-half Lloyd – also summed up how the accident affected Owen’s friends.
“Lloyd and Tom, my two sons, are friendly with Owen, Lloyd especially,” said the former Lions No.9.
“I have never seen Lloyd so upset as when Owen suffered this tragic injury.
“That prompted me to want to do something and I am delighted and privileged to be involved in helping to raise money to support Owen.
“It’s the rugby community coming together.”
As for Owen – who spent 10 months in the spinal rehabilitation unit at Cardiff’s Rookwood Hospital following the accident – the focus is now very much on the future.
“To be fair, I don’t want to look back to what happened or what could have been,” he said.
“I am just looking forward to the future now and what I can move on and do.
“It’s about the here and now, getting on with what my situation is.
“I’m not bitter towards the game at all, really.
“I still follow rugby, I still follow the Blues and watch every Wales game. I’ve still got a passion for it and the rugby community has done so much for me.”
The fundraising from that community has played a big part in Williams now being set up in his new home.
“I moved into the house in early November. It’s in Aberdare, where I was brought up, where all my family are living,” he said.
“It was a big thing for me knowing I had the house to look forward to, to be back close to my family.
“It’s just massive pressure off them as well. They are grateful as much as me.
“Moving into the new house has been great. Mentally it’s been a massive boost for me.
“It’s been a long time coming, but I’ve always known at the back of my head that I had the house to move into, so it’s kept me going and it’s great to finally be in.
“The fund-raising has been a massive drive in getting this purposebuilt house built for me.
“Everyone has supported me, everyone has got behind me and pushed on with the fund raising and it’s really helped out with me and my family in taking all the stress away.
“The support has been great. It’s just been massive. Everyone has pulled together for me. I have different donations from everywhere, different companies that have kindly donated equipment to me to come into the house and to really get back my independence.
“As I say, I get a bit emotional sometimes to see all the support and the lengths people are going to just to get behind me and see me pushing on since my injury. I just want to give a massive thanks to everyone for supporting me.”
Now Williams, who has movement in both arms and is able to drive a specially configured car through hand controls, is intent on helping others who have gone through similar experiences as him.
As a result, the Stay Strong For Ows Foundation has been established as part of the Cardiff Blues Regional Charitable Trust.
The Trust is a new charity set up by the Blues to support any player or administrator at a club in the region who suffers catastrophic injury through rugby and to provide a platform for volunteers who want to raise funds for them.
“Moving into the house has always been the next chapter,” said Williams. “Once I was settled in the house, it was always going to be a case of looking to help others in a similar position to me, who have had injuries through sport.
“I know how much fundraising has helped me and given me things to help me get over my injury.
“It would just be great to give back and help others.
“It’s just about helping out, even like little things, giving support through difficult times, whether it’s a donation or getting some equipment for them, just to get that bit of independence, like I’ve been through it.
“I am looking forward to getting involved with the Trust.
“I know how much fundraising has really supported me and my family. I think it will be great for me to get involved now and help out people who are going through similar to what I went through.
“I know how much of a help a donation can be and how much of a relief it can be.”
The fact that Williams is now looking to help others and give back to the game speaks volumes about this remarkable young man.