It’s 25 years since Hearts and Balls was founded – and it also marks a quarter-century life-changing event for the Fund’s ambassador, Struan Kerr-Liddell.
“Yesterday was 25 years since the accident where I broke my neck playing rugby,” he recalls, on the day we caught up with him. “I’ve only just realised the date. That anniversary used to be a big thing and it’s really not any more – a lot of that is down to the assistance I’ve received through Hearts and Balls, helping me prove that I can still live a pretty regular life.”
Following Struan’s accident, the Hearts and Balls charity helped him adapt to his new way of life.
“Strange as it may sound,” he says, “I’m enormously grateful that I had my accident through rugby. I’ve received huge support and opportunities I wouldn’t have had if I’d just suffered a random accident, due to the spirit of the rugby community.
“I’ve been relatively lucky in that I still work,” he continues. “Until recently I haven’t needed too much support but having two young kids now, those requirements have increased. I had to move from a small flat to a house – which involved having to install a through-floor lift, paid for by the charity – and I needed a much bigger car, with a lift – otherwise I can’t negotiate the kids in and out – so had to opt for a more expensive wheelchair accessible vehicle.
“I contacted the Injured Players’ Foundation at Scottish Rugby who got in touch with Hearts and Balls who were able to help – it helps to have that dedicated point of contact and there were no forms to fill in as they know all the injured players.”
Consequently when Struan was approached to take on the role as ambassador, he had no hesitation in saying yes as he explains, “It was shortly after the death of Jim Taylor, who was an ambassador with the charity, and I was delighted to be able to do more to give back – though his are big shoes to fill.”
Though having seen advances over recent years in support for people with equivalent amounts of movement – “I remember not being able to get on a bus, and having to do huge amounts of pre-planning for any sort of journey,” – Struan is hoping to use his role to improve things further.
“Hearts and Balls is really going from strength to strength right now – especially with the recent defibrillator programme at clubs. I’d like to encourage more awareness of making things accessible all round and help get more people back to work.”
