Page 29 - QARANC Vol 17 No 1 2019

THE GAZETTE QARANC 27
All to Play For
After being medically discharged from the Army after 20 years’ service, I was fortunate to be involved with the inspirational experience of Invictus Games 2014. I tried to be selected for the 2016 Games but unfortunately, I was not successful and felt devastated. I had been the fastest in my classification during the trials, but realised later on it was not all about being the fastest and winning medals but about my own progression in life, and that different wounded and sick military deserved the same experience and chance that I had been given.
Wondering what to do next, I decided to go along to my local disability badminton club. When I was very young, my brother and I had been dragged along by my parents to play badminton and I had got hooked, playing for eight years competitively until finishing at the Youth Olympic Games in Denmark. The badminton skills came back quickly, but in saying that I now had Multiple Sclerosis and was not an able- bodied athlete any more.
I was selected to become part of the Scottish Four Nations team and that was the start of the journey. Badminton Scotland approached me and asked if I would like to represent Scotland at an international tournament in March 2017. My life was about to change, again, forever. I was classified by the International Paralympic Committee in Spain before I was allowed to compete, and was deemed to be an SL4. This meant that at least one of my lower limbs was affected in my movement and also that co-ordination, reflexes and strength were much weaker on that side. Not only that but intermittent blindness in my right eye and fatigue were common symptoms that I had to endure. It certainly makes hitting a shuttlecock
Singles match in Peru
more interesting! I did better than I expected and won two bronze medals in singles and women’s doubles with my Russian partner. I have since competed in 16 international para badminton tournaments, winning at least one medal in all except the World Championships. My finest moment was being the triple gold medal winner in Uganda. My worst moment was being taken off the hotel bus at gun point and held hostage in the back of a taxi by a corrupt policeman with an AK47 until I paid him $1000. I think that, due to being a white female, they thought I would be an easy target. I am positive due to my basic army training at Lichfield and being a psychiatric nurse, I was able to handle the situation more ably than I would have done otherwise. Thank you to Wilkinson Platoon Corporal Sheila Welbourne.
Currently, I am now 5th in the world in my category. The new sport in Paralympics 2020 is para badminton and I have a possibility of being selected. It has cost me £25,000 of my War Pension since starting para badminton, for flights, accommodation, entry fees, training and kit. There is no funding available for para badminton from UK Sport. The QARANC Association have been very supportive and for this I sincerely thank them. Below is a link to my crowdfunding page. If you would like to donate and perhaps see a QA representing Great Britain at the Paralympics, I would be eternally grateful.
If you take anything away from this article, I hope it is this. Determination, resilience and courage are powerful entities. Remember, no matter how less able-bodied you may be, you can still conquer your dreams, whatever they are. What have you got to lose, just give it a go!
To donate through crowdfunding: https://www. justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mary-para-just-giving?utm_ term=apBMXzApr
Mary Wilson Ex Staff Sergeant Community Mental Health Nurse
Winning the Ladies Doubles final with Elizabeth my Ugandan partner