At the age of 28, I used thirty seconds of bravery to change my life for the better.
Feeling suddenly anxious, I paused outside the gymnasium.
The sound of voices and rolling wheels made me doubt the plan.
I took a deep breath, reassured myself that I would be okay and opened the heavy wooden doors.
From that moment forward, I was welcomed into a wheelchair basketball team unlike any other.
Women Warriors
The Scottish Women Warriors basketball team is an all-female team with a focus on inclusion and support for its members, regardless of ability.
Originally founded by the chairperson after being inspired by the Commonwealth games, they have been a constituted club since 2014, I joined a year later and enjoyed five years with the team.
With the tough love and support of the club, I achieved things I didn’t think possible.
Including national competitions and British Wheelchair Basketball Leagues.
Achievements that are only possible due to the ethos of the team.
I didn’t have to worry about my level of disability preventing me from playing.
In the beginning it was just for five minutes.
The club purchased the chair and equipment necessary for me to live up to my potential and then I was able to exceed it.
Those experiences helped make me into the person I am today.
It taught me the importance of peer support and advocation within the disabled community.
I will be forever grateful.
Unfortunately, Covid put an end to the club’s competitive ambitions due to issues with transport and health affecting the majority of us.
It took away the face-to-face aspect that made the club special and a lot of members either went back to social isolation or found other hobbies.
I have been affected by all the above and attending events is always a privilege when life allows.
Felt Like Home
Recently, I returned to the gymnasium.
To the noise and the same voices that felt like home.
Now celebrating their 10th year, the team had a ‘come and try’ event to find new members.
I very quickly remembered what the team was about and did my best to create as warm and reassuring presence as possible.
The nervous excitement in the room brought back many happy memories and allowed me to give back a little of the understanding shown to me when I started.
They are always looking for amazing women to join the team.
As an inclusive sport you do not need to have any experience playing wheelchair basketball.
Or a disability to play in the team.
The only things they require is an open mind and good sense of humour.
Encouragement and Support
I spoke with the current chairperson of the club and discussed her hopes for the future.
This is what she said: “For the team to continue to grow while we keep our values intact.
“We create an atmosphere of encouragement and support that increases our confidence and tackles social isolation.
“We hope to ensure no one is excluded, despite the cost-of-living crisis we all face.”
Clubs like this provide vital services and opportunities for vulnerable people and should always be supported.
This team of women, however, changed the world for me.
They showed me a better future and gave me the confidence to keep pushing the boundaries of my abilities, it deserves to continue to do that for others.
Although I no longer play basketball, I carry the lessons learned and experience gained into the future.
Once a warrior, always a warrior.
