Blog: “Sport makes me feel I can achieve great things”

Hi, my name is Abbie Breakwell, I’m 15 years old and I live in Long Eaton, Derbyshire.

I have a muscle-wasting disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), which has meant I have worn splints sine I was one year old. This has slowly progressed, making my legs weaker. Also, in 2016, after some investigation, it was discovered I have Spinal Syrinx. This means I have a ball of fluid in my spinal cord that is slowly expanding and damaging the nerves. This is why I am now a wheelchair user, although I can still walk short distances.

I have always loved different sports but it’s taken me some time to find one I am comfortable with. As my health condition worsened I feared my days of sport would come to an end - I was wrong. I’m really happy to now be competing in three different sports and love taking part in all of them!

My main sport is wheelchair tennis, I’ve been doing it for over two years now and train up to six times a week at Loughborough University, Nottingham Tennis Centre and Grantham Tennis Club.

Recently I’ve been selected as one of seven of the country’s most promising junior wheelchair tennis players to be a part of Tennis Foundation’s world leading new programme. The program aims to help gifted juniors progress to the first level of the Tennis Foundation’s World Class Wheelchair Tennis Performance Programme. I have also been selected to represent Great Britain at the World Team Cup, taking place in Holland.

I also play wheelchair basketball and I am part of the Derby regional squad, where I play in the adult’s league.

The other sport I take part in is a martial arts called Tetsudo. I’m a part of the Spondon Club, where I have been a student for over five years and train once a week. Since I first started training my legs have become weaker, so I started to use a wheelchair. The thought of having to stop training did cross my mind, however, my instructors were so supportive and encouraged me to continue and actually adapted the syllabus for me. They way my instructors continue to include me is amazing and I’m really happy to say in January 2018 I passed my blue belt grading.

I love taking part in sport – it’s so much fun. It keeps my fitness levels up and gives me the opportunity to spend time with friends. Most of all I love the competitiveness that sport brings, the feeling of achieving my goals and winning, whether on my own or part of a team. Taking part in sport also reinforces that even though my disability is changing, I can still achieve great things.

Whilst training and competing I am solely focused on what I am doing and this allows me to escape everyday worries and pain. After training, oddly I feel energised but shattered at the same time. I also get an inner confidence and self-belief, which has helped my self-esteem.

The support of my family, friends, team mates and coaches is extremely important to my success and I couldn't do any of it without them. They are there to share and celebrate in the good times, and pick me up when things get hard. My mum, dad and sister all make huge sacrifices to make sure I am where I need to be. More importantly giving me their time and love and just knowing that they are there means so much. I can't thank them enough.

My sporting activities and being a This Girl Can ambassador gives me the opportunity to help encourage disabled and non-disabled people to get involved in sport. It does not matter what the disability is as there is a sport for you. So, my advice to other disabled people wanting to get active but not sure where to start is - just give it a go as it could change your life as it has mine. Being active has also helped me make friends for life, so it's not all about fitness and physical capability, it is more about having fun, whilst improving your mental health and reaching your full potential.

WheelPower is a national charity for wheelchair sport that provides opportunities for disabled people to play sport and lead healthy active lifestyles. 

If you want to be more active but aren't sure how to start, visit our dedicated webpages for advice.