Skip to content

Melanie Varley

Dear me...

Former GB triathlete Melanie was left with a brain injury and several broken bones, after being knocked off her bike in 2017. She lost her business and had to leave the triathlon club and sport she so dearly loved, massively impacting her mental health. After years of recovery and a lengthy legal case, she discovered Day One. Melanie is now a Peer Support Volunteer, helping ensure others like her aren’t left to rebuild life on their own.

Dear Melanie,

It is now seven years since another rider crashed into you at high speed.

You were thrown up in the air and slammed into the concrete like a rag doll. You knew from the moment you regained consciousness; you were in trouble. As an osteopath you knew that you were lucky you hadn’t been killed or paralysed and you were on a long rehabilitation journey to get your ‘life back’.

You were a strong, determined, fit woman, who had represented GB at the age group World Triathlon Championships. Most importantly you were a wife to Peter, mother to William and India, and ran your own business.

You had always treated your mind and body respectfully. You had been involved in sport all your life and had some great achievements.

Suddenly, your mind and body didn’t feel like they belonged to you, and you hadn’t ever experienced pain like this.

Remember when you fell into your husband’s arms and told him you felt broken? You were both equally shocked by this statement.

You have a long list of set backs. And you were angry and upset. When you walked through the Dene where you played as a child, you couldn’t hold back the tears.

You stopped and came face to face with your 10-year-old self, who told you ‘it’s OK, you are going to get through this’.

You were embracing rehabilitation and putting all the energy you could into it. PTSD, sleep and fatigue issues were horrible. And you were not prepared for them to continue for many years.

You were not ready for all the injustices that you were going to have to go through, which deeply impacted you. A lengthy legal case and finding the right legal support until you had the right people fighting your corner.

You were working through all sorts of different types of pain, but you kept going, trying to move forward.

Your favourite saying was ‘nobody said this was going to be easy Mel’ and ‘why am I having to go through this’.


Dealing with the DWP was horrendous. Being told that you were fit for work, when you and other medics knew this wasn’t the case. Having a strong work ethic, and wanting to return to work, you were upset that you knew you couldn’t. Your loss of your business and your role as an Osteopath helping people was massive. You lost your financial independence.

Having to deal with three tribunals was extremely stressful. You won two of them. The system should have been there to help you, not hinder you.

One of the worst parts is that you have had to leave your triathlon club and the sport you loved so much. You recall feeling lonely and isolated for the first time in your life. You wanted people to understand how you were feeling, but how could they?

This was your journey.

You felt you needed to be in a support group, where you could talk to people who had similar experiences to you, but you didn’t know of one. You felt like you were in a battle, fighting for the right treatment to help you move forward. You were so frustrated and angry and didn’t think you were capable of feeling like this.

This somehow spurred you on to take charge of your situation. Your darling husband, children, family and friends were on the journey with you. They were worried for you.

You finally received a full year of rehabilitation with an amazing team. This team, with your new solicitor, understood you and where you needed to get to. The journey should have been easier. You have been let down.

You couldn’t do this without the help and support of your amazing husband and children, and you still get angry about what we have been put through as a family.

You fought and got the right rehabilitation. Look where you are now. You are still on your rehabilitation journey and working on your life. You have learnt to swim again and got a place to represent GB in the European aquathlon championships. You haven’t returned to work yet, but hopefully you will.

In 2024 you discover Day One Trauma Support. You have always said you don’t want anyone to have to go through the same journey as you did. And you want to help people on their journey and make a difference.


Now you are doing this and making a difference.

Having so many fractures and pain feels like you have literally been stripped to the bone and everything felt like it was on a deep level. You have an analytical brain, you had a huge problem and wanted solutions.

You were not super woman, just human.

You know who your real friends are, and they have been on this journey with you. It’s a journey over the last seven years you did not plan.

It is the end of term, and this is your report to yourself. Well done, Melanie, you survived and have got to this stage. Life is so precious, and everything can change in a split second.

You still have more work to do, but keep moving forward and embrace everything life has to offer you. New beginnings are on the horizon.

Best wishes,

Melanie

Read Melanie's story of recovery

Support Major Trauma Awareness Week

Every £1 you give will provide a minute of vital counselling – together we can raise £10,000 to meet extra demand for this crucial service.

Donate

Sign-up to hear our latest news: