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Gilly Mara
My name is Gillian Mara but most know me as Gilly. The 28th August 2002 was a pivotal day in my life and one I shall never forget. It was just before my final year of university: I had decided wher...view moreMy name is Gillian Mara but most know me as Gilly. The 28th August 2002 was a pivotal day in my life and one I shall never forget. It was just before my final year of university: I had decided where I wanted to go with my career and was about to achieve a childhood dream of competing for Great Britain in canoeing. I was a confident, outgoing individual with a real zest for life. The world was my oyster!
I fell approximately 200 feet. In the early stages after the fall, as I began my recovery, I was plagued with unanswered questions, how and why did it happen are just some of them. However one thing was said to me that stuck in my mind; ‘You have to want to get better’. I made a very conscious decision there and then that I didn’t want to walk again - I wanted to run!
Out of my own sport of Canoeing, I have been heavily involved in sport in all aspects. I have coached at world class level, been a national coach educator and been involved in developing coaching qualifications for numerous sports. My ability to think out of the box proved a breath of fresh air to some sports in making people think and then coach in a different way. The skills picked up from completing a doctorate in sports engineering, where I worked alongside sports manufacturer adidas and my experiences as a coach and an athlete led me into lecturing and then finally into working in occupant and vehicle crash analysis at an automotive company as well as an athlete mentor. The journey I have taken since falling has all had the same underlying theme behind it and that is a real need to help others and to make a difference. I take great pleasure in overcoming challenges and solving problems and motivating others to achieve their goals.view less