I’ve always been an active person. I love swimming and I did lots of other sports when I was younger. I started competing in aquathlon, the swimming and running parts of a triathlon, when I was still at school.

Then, later on in life, after I had children, I started doing triathlons. I started winning races and quickly qualified for Team GB in standard distance. I represented my age group at the World Triathlon Championships in 2016 and I was getting ready for the next year’s world championships, regularly training with my club.

I was out on a recovery ride after some difficult training when another cyclist crashed into me on a descent. I flew up into the air and slammed into the road.

I suffered mild brain injury. Two of my ribs were broken and I had spinal injuries. I fractured my clavicle and my shoulder was shattered to the point where the surgeons couldn’t operate on it. I had to wait for it to heal.

In the months after I found that I had to fight for the right physiotherapy through the NHS. Meanwhile I was having difficulties with the insurer, unable to access money I needed for rehabilitation. I began legal action.

I went with a local solicitor. Eventually, after numerous missed deadlines, the insurer admitted liability and I was assigned a case manager. However, the insurer held up payments and the case manager downplayed the support I needed, particularly with my PTSD. I had to do a lot myself.

After a year and despite the lack of support, I was able to walk and jog 5k, get on a bike and was starting to try swimming again. I went through loads of pain and sleep deprivation. Nothing felt connected and everything hurt.

I wanted to get back into the sport I loved, but it wasn’t possible for me to return to my triathlon club. I felt like I lost more than a club. I lost my sense of purpose and belonging. It felt like the experience became part of my PTSD. I was forced to leave my role as triathlon coach and my profession as an osteopath.

The insurers were slow to release the funds I needed for rehabilitation and mental health support two years after the incident. I had to take matters into my own hands. I replaced my solicitor with Irwin Mitchell in 2021. As I tried to deal with all this bureaucracy I felt like I was going to have a breakdown. I was so overwhelmed.

I settled the case in 2022 but legal proceedings are still ongoing.

I’m not back to where I was as a triathlete, but I have begun to compete in aquathons. I took part in the England Championships last year and got the fastest swimming time, coming second in my age group. I was so pleased. I have been selected to represent GB at the European Championships and my goal is to compete in the World Championships next year.

I found out about Day One and I thought the charity was fantastic. I never felt so lonely and isolated in my life as I did in 2019, and if I’d had someone from Day One to talk to it could have been massive for me. I knew I wanted to use my experience to help others, so I decided to become a Peer Support Volunteer.

Now I know if I can help someone, even if I can just listen, I know the difference it makes. Knowing that I’m helping means so much to me. I don’t want anyone else to go through what I did on their own.