Happy Valentine’s Day, from active disabled people and their partners

Today is Valentine’s Day, and the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) is marking the day in a unique way.

Supporting Me to Be Active, last month’s report from EFDS, shows the important role people who support disabled people play, whether in a professional or personal capacity.

The Valentine’s custom of sending cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts originated in Britain.

So on this special day, EFDS hears from people who are supported to be active by their loved ones. It’s the turn of those people to wish their supporters a Happy Valentine’s.

Marie’s Valentine

I met my husband through an online dating agency. I didn't tell Andy about my disability for ages. Then I got brave and as we chatted through email and I told him. It made no difference to him – all he wanted to know was how it would affect him. He felt horrible asking but I don't blame him.

We quickly fell in love and got married, then eight years later after my efforts at the gym and Weight Watchers I fell pregnant. To me, all of it was a miracle.

I enjoy taking part in a pilates class, though since having children I can only manage one class a week. It is hard work and an endurance test for me. I struggle through most of it, but I feel amazing when it's finished and I feel really good results.

I am so blessed to have found an amazing husband who supports me. He has been there through thick and thin. He’s one in a million and I have truly won! It's been an incredible journey so far.

Mark’s Valentine

I am a very sporty person. I realised at a young age that it was a way of showing disability did not affect, bother or limit me.

I am currently part of the Great Britain wheelchair basketball squad, and as a result I train most days.

My lovely wife is hugely supportive, puts up with and supports me being away from home and having to train so much. We have a young family so things can be tough, both for Emma having to look after them on her own but also me being away.

I am extremely lucky to have such a supportive friend, wife and mother to my children. She encourages me to push for my dreams and supports me even though it can make things tougher for her.

I promise to continue to help as much as I can and make the most of the time we have together.

Emma’s Valentine

I'm a physiotherapist working with people with spinal cord injuries, and I'm passionate about encouraging people to become, or return to, being active after their injury.

I met Mark through wheelchair rugby – he was a player, and I was support staff with the GB development squad. Before we had children I was very involved with wheelchair rugby, but these days I focus more on our family while he is the active one.

I fully support him trying to achieve his sporting goals. On Valentine's, as every day, I love him and his dedication to our family, his sport and his work. He always gives 100%.

Martin’s Valentine

I play all varieties of wheelchair rugby, and Sarah has played wheelchair rugby league alongside me, as well as handball. She is a black belt in a form of karate, and she is supporting of that fact that I train several times a week.

I met Sarah on a Sports Leaders course in Widnes in 2010. She is my rock. She supports me in all my sporting achievements and sporting passions. She is always on hand with a message of support or to offer advice. We fit together so well, and I love her so much.

Sarah’s Valentine

It gives me great pleasure to help someone succeed their goals. With Martin, I help him to use his strengths and weaknesses to stay active, as we both know his limits and where we can push him to succeed.

I met Martin in 2010. As soon as I saw him I thought, "Yep, he's definitely going to be a handful!" He had such a bubbly, outgoing personality, although at first he was rather shy. We bonded straightaway and his disability has never bothered me. He used a wheelchair, but as we got chatting I realised we shared the same sense of humour and had so much in common.

Martin, you have brought the best out of me and I am so lucky to have you in my life. You have shown me that you can do anything you set your mind to and have taught me to have more of an open mind about life. Thank you for making me your wife and accepting me into your family. Love you always!

Cath’s Valentine

I love playing powerchair football, and train or coach three times a week. Carolyn helps me get into my chair and strap everything in. She’s also a powerchair football referee, and we all know you can’t play football without a ref!

Without Carolyn I would not be able to go swimming – she assists me to get changed and lifts me in and out of the pool. She stays close by in the water to keep me safe and to stop me being knocked off balance.

I knew Carolyn’s mother, who had the same disability as me, and we were introduced through the support group attached to my disability. We became friends and soon didn’t want to live without each other.

I’m not really a soppy person, she is more than I am. I hope she knows how much I love her and how lucky I feel to have her as my partner and to have so many adventures.

Carolyn’s Valentine

I enjoy coaching powerchair football and I am also a referee. I help Cath take part in the sport by physically lifting her into her specialist powerchair football chair, making sure she is comfortable and putting her many straps on. I also help all the other players do this too. 

We run all sessions together, Cath being the brains and me being the brawn and the very loud voice! 

I met Cath properly about 15 years ago through my mam, who also had the same disability as Cath… although we apparently met when we were teenagers, but neither of us can remember! 

Cath is a supportive partner and a brilliant parent to our two kids who are 14 and 18. We have had so many brilliant times together and I’m sure we’ll have many more to come. Love you loads babe x

You can download the full Supporting Me to Be Active report. For further information, please contact Francis Leng, Research and Insight Advisor. Email fleng@efds.co.uk or call 0161 200 54410161 200 54410161 200 5441

CallSend SMSCall from mobileAdd to SkypeYou'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype