DO you wake up in the morning with a bit of a cold and think, my goodness, “How am I going to get through the day feeling like this” Everyday life throws us little aches and pains that can bring us down. Imagine if you can, however, if you woke up one morning and through one of life’s not so kind curved balls, you weren’t able to participate in the sport that you loved anymore. How would you cope with that?

Last week I had the utmost pleasure to meet two extremely inspiring people both of whom have had to change their lives around due to some pretty difficult circumstances. These catastrophic events, which unfortunately happen on a more regular basis than we are perhaps aware of, would, in most cases, send the majority of us hiding long-term, under the duvet. The reality of the situation is that we would no longer be dealing with the day to minutia as it would pale into insignificance and the focus now, would be on nursing our wounded bodies, trying to make sense of fate, just like Van and Gillian had to do for so many years.

Van Phillips, from the US, was in Scotland this week picking up a lifetime achievement award from Sporting Business Innovation Awards. He was twenty one when he was involved a boat accident that left him with his left leg severed at the knee. Van was an outdoor fanatic; he loved being outdoors, running, hiking, in fact he got enjoyment out of most sports. He had to undergo several operations due to an initially particularly poor amputation, before he could start thinking about a prosthetic.

When it came to him wearing one, he was distraught at the cumbersome style and heavy weight that it presented. Always a bit of an inventor, Van set himself a challenge and through time eventually came up with a prototype made of carbon graphite, now known throughout the world as the Flexi-Foot.

This invention has changed the lives of so many people and has given most amputees a chance to forge ahead and participate again in sport and to take their own individual performance to whatever level they feel comfortable with. We have watched some incredible sport played by wearers of the flexi-foot and you can’t help but feel humbled and inspired both at the same time.

Gillian Fowler, from Aberdeen, broke her back in a horse riding accident in 2008, in fact doctors questioned at that time whether or not she had also broken her neck. Since that day she has overcome temporary paralysis, undergone numerous major spinal surgery as well as enduring several spinal collapses, many spinal injections and years of physiotherapy.

It took until 2014 and further surgery before Gillian felt significant change to her back movement which increased her ability to walk. Gillian credits her love of outdoors pursuits as the impetus she needed to continue her recovery and she looked at how she could use her love of hiking, climbing, kayaking, to name just a few of her pursuits, to get herself back to fitness and help others at the same time. Growing from strength to strength Gillian was aware of many people who were once sporty, fit and active, but who through many different circumstances, now require a bit more help and encouragement to continue with this lifestyle.

Her company, Backstrong Adventures, organise outdoor expeditions and activities both in the UK and oversees so that anyone with an adventurist spirit and in particular those who have experienced trauma, injuries, loss, disability, disease and any other life-changing ailment, can have their own adventures in a supportive environment. Gillian has also recently founded a charity, Backstrong Trust, which will compliment Backstrong Adventures and will be a fundraising arm, to support people with spinal injuries.

Van has now sold his company but intends to ensure that his prosthetics will be available to all and at a cost of under $100 dollars, so he has created a charity that will deal with this issue.

Both Gillian and Van had the desire to give something back and in both circumstances have succeeded. They have used their love of sport to give them immense strength and courage to create something so positive in the face of absolute adversity. So next time I feel a sniffle and a moan coming on I will think of what these two inspiring individuals have achieved through some extremely trying circumstances and count myself lucky.

Maureen McGonigle is the founder of Scottish Women in Sport