Inspirational sports fun day for amputees organised by Belfast Trust

‘Try out’ day invited participants to have a go at activities such as golf

IT was a day that showed the inspirational power of sport.

People who have lost limbs have taken part in a special event organised by the Belfast Health Trust, experiencing everything from bowling and golf to wheelchair hurling and badminton.

The ‘try out’ day for amputees was aimed at giving participants the chance to have a go at sports they thought they could not access.

Attendees of the Amputee Rehabilitation Centre at Musgrave Park Hospital were invited to the Olympia Leisure Centre for the fun-filled day.

They included Charlie Wilkinson (5) and his mum Emily. Charlie was born with phocomelia, meaning his left arm didn’t fully develop in the womb.

“It was quite nerve-racking until Charlie was born but then when he came it was brilliant, he was healthy, he just had a little arm,” Emily said.

Charlie hasn’t let this stop him, added Emily who joked: “He calls it his pirate arm.”

She is thankful the Belfast Trust organised the sports day as it has allowed Charlie to meet other children with differences.

“We come from Ballymoney and there are not too many people with disabilities and limb differences, it just shows us there are loads of people out there like Charlie,” she said.

Charlie already plays rugby but enjoyed playing a range of sports available in the leisure centre.

Martin Lavery is a member of Ulster Wheelchair Hurlers and he said he was attending the event to help encourage more amputees to take up the sport.

“Taking part in a sport can help you both physically and mentally,” he said.

Martin broke his back in an accident in his former workplace.

“In 2016 I had a bad accident, I fell 35 feet off scaffolding. I was on the ground with my left leg around my neck and I realised I had broken my back — my life just changed overnight.

“The only part of me that is truly paralysed is my left leg because it saved my head that day, really I shouldn’t be here,” he said.

Martin said joining the Ulster Wheelchair Hurling team has helped him readjust to life following his accident.

“I have found so many friends that I would consider good friends from it,” he said.

Lorraine Graham, a rehabilitation consultant at the Belfast Trust, believes encouraging amputees to become involved in sport can help both their physical and mental health.

“Once someone has experienced amputation it is a real loss.

“It’s a loss physiologically and obviously a loss physically and those people have to try to build up their strength and fitness and by being in sport you can develop that strength,” she said.

Lorraine said the purpose of the sports day was to encourage amputees of all ages to get involved in sports.

“The aim of the event is to let (people) know what is out there because having prosthetic limbs or being a wheelchair user shouldn’t discourage anyone from taking part in sport.”