Purple Warriors in my own words - Glyn

Glyn is 55, ex Army (Royal Artillary) & has a prosthetic leg. This is what Purple Warriors means to him.

This is Glyn with his team mates getting himself prepared for a dragon boat race

Whilst still serving, I had a serious car accident and badly damaged my right leg. After numerous operations to try to save it, I finally had to agree to it being amputated (in 2014) and a prosthetic fitted.

This affected me much more than I ever thought it would and I went into deep depression for over a year. I felt worthless and was embarrassed to go outside my home. My life had come to a crunching halt.

Then a fellow veteran mentioned he had heard a new club had been formed – Purple Warriors – and reckoned I should give it a go. I first went along in September 2016 and I haven’t looked back!

The camaraderie is absolutely fantastic and everyone there is always willing to help you out. Mind you, I get the mickey taken out of me the whole time about my prosthetic but that’s what would have happened in my Army days and I actually love it (and I give as good as I get!).

Quote: "I now have a large extended family to call on when I’m struggling."

In fact, aside from the physical rehabilitation that the paddling has done for me, I reckon the constant ribbing from muckers has done wonders for my mental state. We are always there for each other and I know I now have a large extended family to call on when I’m struggling, and they never let me down. I’m also there for others too.

I’ve joined a civilian club too (in Exeter) because I enjoy the paddling so much and this allows me to train several times a week. But it is the days training or racing with Purple Warriors that I look forward tothe most.

The Boss insists we race against unimpaired crews and, you know what, I love it. Once I’m in the boat, no one can see my prosthetic and I can paddle my heart out without being self-conscious. And, when we beat some of these crews (which we often do now), nothing gives me more pleasure than knowing I’ve done so in the company of a bunch of mates who all suffer from something bad but who give their all for me as I do for them. ‘Empty the tank!’ is regularly ordered during a race and we all know that everyone will.

I raced with Purple Warriors in Hong Kong and I’ve never been prouder of a team I’ve been a part of. The reception we got there was incredible, and the results we achieved unbelievable – I cried there; often not as I used to after I lost my leg from self-pity, but because it was so emotional to have achieved so much.

2 years ago I felt life was probably no longer worth living – 8 years on, I’m still energised, I’m focussed, I’m fitter and I have the best bunch of mates you could wish for.

Make Purple Warriors your next challenge.