Hi everyone,

If you know me, you know that wheelchair basketball has been my lifeblood for nearly 50 years. From the moment I picked up the sport at age 12 living with Spina Bifida, to winning 89 caps for Great Britain and scoring the winning basket against France in the 1984 Paralympics, sport has defined who I am.

Over a 49-year career across basketball, swimming, table tennis, and rugby, I’ve given everything I have to the game—both on the court and off it, coaching the next generation and running mobility demos to help others get their independence back.

I thought my days of wearing the Great Britain jersey were behind me. But life has a way of surprising you.

I am incredibly proud to share that I have been selected to represent Great Britain once again, playing for the newly formed FIMBA GB Masters Wheelchair Basketball team at the upcoming European Championships in Athens, Greece!

The Reality Check: We are Self-Funded

While being selected is an unbelievable honor, master’s sports (for veteran athletes) don't receive national funding. The governing bodies focus their money on junior development and the current Paralympic cycles.

That means every single penny of this trip is on me. To get to Athens, I have to completely self-fund the journey. As you can imagine, traveling internationally with a specialized sports wheelchair isn't cheap. The costs quickly add up:

Flights & Specialized Baggage: Flying to Greece, plus the heavy airline fees to safely transport my custom basketball wheelchair.

Accommodation: Staying at accessible hotels in Athens for the duration of the European Championships.

Team Expenses: Mandatory official FIMBA registration fees, athlete insurance, and the official GB kit.

Between the travel logistics and the specialized equipment, the total cost runs into thousands of pounds. It’s a steep hill to climb on my own, and it would break my heart to turn down this opportunity simply because of the price tag.