Georgia's Great Wheel

Proving anything is possible by being the first to ever self-propel in a wheelchair up the National 3 peaks after suffering two life changing injuries and being told I would never recover. 

At just 21 years old I have gone through more than I ever could have imagined. Unfortunately at just 16, I suffered a life-changing brain injury that led to 12 months in the hospital. I went from being a GB athlete competing all over the world to being paralysed from the neck down, unable to eat, talk and relying on machines and tubes to keep me alive. We were told I would not recover, this was my life now. But I like to prove people wrong and I went on to not only recover but also return to successfully competing.

I still experienced challenges from the injury but this was not going to stop me and  I went on to study Physiotherapy at university. But just a few months later, once again my life was turned upside down when I was involved in a white water kayak accident which left me with many injuries and complex neurological complications. I was once again fighting for my life and at 19, faced with the long road ahead and being told just how impossible a recovery would be, especially for a second time. Luckily I am pretty stubborn so I made it my mission to prove them wrong. I said no matter what It takes, I will give it my all. Unfortunately, I spent many months in Intensive care facing many setbacks and challenges. I was left relearning all the things I once took for granted. I lost the ability to talk, and swallow, and was paralysed once again. I endured painful therapies for 6 hours a day. We saw no progress. My dream of getting back in my boat seemed so far away and I began to question whether I could do it. I was hanging onto every last bit of hope and strength I had. But after 12 hard months, I sat in a wheelchair, I was eating Percy pigs and of course back to being my gobby self. But, most importantly I was home. It took more than I will ever be able to put into words to get to where I am now, but it was so worth it. I would be lying if I said it had been easy, and at times it has very much been far from that. There were times I wasn’t sure I could do it anymore but that is when I learnt the most about myself and I used every setback to come back even stronger. The people who believed in me when I felt too weak to believe in myself, and the people who made me laugh even on my darkest days I will never be able to thank enough, they gave me a reason to keep fighting and I wouldn't be here today if it wasn’t for them.

I have now left the hospital and neuro rehab. I am still paralysed and I am a full-time wheelchair user and have many daily challenges I face but these will never define me. Life is not how it used to be, it is better than I ever could have imagined. I have had this opportunity to restart my life and I never want to take that for granted. I have learnt many lessons I will carry with me for life over the last few years and I have become stronger than I ever thought I could be. I am now training in the GB para-rowing talent program, competing in CrossFit, giving motivational talks in schools and proving to myself anything is possible! I have proven many people wrong not just once, but twice and I plan on continuing to do just that. 

In case you can’t tell, I like a challenge, so this August I will be self-propelling The National 3 Peaks with a group of friends… in a target time of 36 hours. We will be the first people to ever take on this challenge, but we believe we can do it!

To show the difference just a year can make, in August 2022 I couldn’t even sit in, let alone wheel a manual wheelchair so this will be a huge milestone.

We will be raising money for Brain Research UK. A charity that has played a huge part in my recovery. 1 in 6 people suffer from a neurological condition yet there is such a lack of support out there, which unfortunately I have learnt first-hand. Every 90 seconds someone suffers a brain injury. An injury that changes their life. I was told the things I would never do again but they failed to mention the incredible things I would gain, the opportunities I would never have had and this newfound appreciation for life. Brain Research UK is the UK's leading dedicated funder of neurological research. They fund the best science to achieve the greatest impact for people affected by neurological conditions, to help them live better, and longer lives.

The National 3 peaks are going to be a challenge but we are ready for it. We will be having fundraisers leading up to the event to raise money for the trip costs, but we want all of what we raise to go to this incredible charity, a charity that helped save my life. Please join us on our journey wheeling up mountains. Making the impossible possible. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

#CARMICHAELCAN