Mark has endured serious trauma throughout the years, extremely hard times that are almost too frequent to believe.
Mark has PTSD from the stress and horror he experienced during his time in the military. He has found ways to cope over the years, but sustained injuries dragged Mark into the darkness in 2012. After falling off a roof, Mark acquired a spinal injury that left him paralysed.
Remarkably, with hard work, he regained movement in his arms and legs, but tragedy struck Mark again in 2020 when he suffered a severe seizure and was left completely paralyzed again. He couldn’t believe this could happen. Mark ended up in and out of hospital multiple times and was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder. Understandably, Mark fell into a dark depression.
“I ended up attempting to take my life twice while I was in hospital. And thank God, one of my beautiful young support workers came in and just grabbed me and held me and then we got the help.”
Mark’s determination and strength is a force to be reckoned with, so he set his mind to improving his mental and physical health and regained his life back as well as the movement in his arms once again. One thing that has helped Mark to see the light, something that has kept him motivated and pulled him through tough days, is sport.
An incredibly talented sportsman, Mark plays more sports than you can count on one hand! He has completed three marathons, represented Australia, and travelled all over the world competing.
“I play roughly ten sports and I compete nationally in two sports and am training for the Paralympics. I play wheelchair basketball, archery, rowing, and cycling. I’m an Australian captain for the wheelchair curling team. Oh, we’re going to Korea later in the year. And then I have also started skiing.”
In between all of his training and competitions, Mark also mentors and coaches children’s wheelchair sport, is a volunteer and participant for Invictus Games and a disability advocate.
Understandably, travelling 200km into the city each week for his commitments was getting unmanageable. Mark decided he needed to move to maintain his mental health and ensure he was able to continue doing what he loves most. So, when Mark applied for a Youngcare Home Support Grant for a bed for his carers and a washer and dryer for his new home, there was no hesitation in approving his application.
Mark didn’t ask for much, an incredibly independent and positive man, but still, he is very grateful to Youngcare’s generous supporters.
“Thank you so much for all the support. People like me, we couldn’t do what we do without the grants. As we know, it’s all expensive and it all helps so much. Thank you very much, very much.”
