Paralympic great shows off medals for QVH Charity

Paralympic table-tennis star Will Bayley showed off his silver and gold medals and shared the secrets of his success when he visited Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead in his role as an ambassador for us here at QVH Charity.

Will, 36, is a veteran of five Paralympic Games and has claimed seven medals, including a gold in Rio in 2016 and a silver in Paris earlier this year, when he lost out in the final by one point.

A father of two daughters, Will was brought up in Tunbridge Wells, still lives near the hospital, and has been an ambassador for QVH Charity for three years.

On Thursday 19 December, Will brought along his medals from Rio and Paris, and had a tour of the hospital, meeting hospital staff, and chatting with patients, all eager to get the chance to put a gong around their neck.

For Will it was a hospital visit he was only too happy to make, having spent large parts of his life as a patient in hospital’s rather than a much welcome visitor.

Born with arthrogryposis, a rare congenital disorder that affected all four of his limbs, Will underwent numerous operations at Great Ormond Street Hospital from the age of three months old. He returned there for chemotherapy when he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the age of seven and it was while recovering from cancer that his grandmother bought him a table tennis table.

Will said: “I have spent large chucks of my life in hospital, especially up to the age of 7 when I had a number of operations on my legs, and then when I contracted blood cancer.

“In fact I was in hospital when my grandma Mary visited and bought me a mini table tennis table. Once I started to play it, I could beat my older brother, so I decided I would keep it up!”

He added: “I am absolutely delighted to be an ambassador for QVH Charity. It is a special place, it’s local to me. I am so proud to represent this hospital and I plan to look at ways in which we can do even more.

“I know how people feel when they are in hospital. I’ve spent so much time in the places – so I feel at home here and it is nothing for me to give up my time and spend it with people here and with patients. Especially at this time of year, it is an honour to come to the hospital and share some stories and let people try on the medals.

“Meeting young patients today, it is hard when you are in hospital, it is really not where you want to be, but these places, the experience they are going through can be the making of them. My mum, Chrissie, said that to me when I was seven-years-old and I didn’t believe her. But it did. The journey I’ve been on has given me the strength and resilience to always keep going, bounce back and live the life I’ve had.

“I say this to patients when I see them in hospital, or people I meet who may be going through a tough time physically: you can get through this, this will be the making of you, stay positive. It’s what has got me to the top in my career.”

Lucas Hodgson-Martin, aged 7, in awe of Will’s medals

James Lowell, Chief Executive Officer at Queen Victoria Hospital, said: “It is fantastic that Will is here in his ambassadorial role for our QVH Charity, at such an important time of the year when the work the charity does to raise vital funds for our patients really hits home.

 “He met many staff members and many patients, such as little Lucas who was wowed to have the medals around his neck! We are really thankful to Will for the work he does, helping to raise awareness of QVH Charity and the people that work here and the people we care for.”

Camilla Lane, Head of Fundraising and Voluntary Services, said: “Will is a fantastic ambassador for QVH Charity. Colleagues here today, and patients, have loved spending time with him, trying on those medals. It was lovely for him to come and spread a little Christmas cheer and share some of his stories of his brilliant career.”

Will, who has starred on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, still has big plans for his sporting career.

He said: “Paris was unbelievable: 6000 in the arena, one table, lose by one point in the final, it was like a movie. Losing was difficult to take but you move on. It is LA in 2028 and I reckon I can give it another go. What a way to bow out that will be!”