Woman paralysed in horse riding accident regains team spirit

Lisa Boyle, 47, helped Belfast’s Musgrave Park Hospital win the Team Spirit and Sportsmanship trophy at the event, hosted at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Buckinghamshire.

Lisa enjoyed success in table tennis and finished runner up in the knock-out competition.

Competing against 14 spinal injury centres from across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, Lisa’s Belfast team were nominated for the coveted team spirit trophy while finishing in 6th place overall behind champions Stoke Mandeville.

Focusing on the social side and rehabilitation, Lisa has recognised the benefits of taking part in the wheelchair sports sessions besides the competition.

Lisa said “It’s just being with other people and chatting and hearing their stories.

“Obviously we are going at it in a competitive way, but it’s only a bit of fun at the end of the day too us.

“Even going up the street for the first time to do a bit of shopping it is scary, you just wonder what people are thinking, I have had a few falls out of the chair. The Inter Spinal Unit Games is really about using the sport to gain confidence in your daily life as well.”

Occupational Therapist Carmel Lavery said “Lisa came to Musgrave for an intensive period of rehab, and from day one she was highly motivated, enthusiastic and determined to achieve all of her goals.”