“It’s like stepping out of the darkness and into the light.”
By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer.
Alan Izzard, a 54-year-old archer from Angus, Tayside, found a renewed sense of purpose through sport. A former member of the British Armed Forces, Alan’s life changed dramatically following a severe leg injury sustained during service, which eventually led to a below-knee amputation in 2022. Once an active and competitive individual, he faced not only the physical challenges of reduced mobility but also the psychological toll of PTSD, anxiety and depression. In 2018, while seeking new ways to stay engaged and active, Alan discovered archery—a sport that has since become a powerful tool in his recovery, helping him rebuild confidence and improve his mental well-being.
Alan explained what it was like when he stopped taking part in exercise due to injury: “I was a runner, my specialty was 800 metres,1500 metres, 5k,10k and things like that, and when that got taken away from me through injury, I lost some of my identity.”
Alan continued to explain how a chance encounter helped change his mindset around Para sport activities. “Somebody said to me, ‘you’re pushing your chair well’. They then said, ‘have you ever thought about doing adaptive sports?’.”
This conversation resulted in Alan trying out multiple Para sport activities, as he felt a sense of acceptance and belonging. “He didn’t see me as somebody in a wheelchair, he just saw me as a potential athlete and that was massive for me,” said Alan.
Alan and his family soon recognised the importance of sport and the benefits gained from being physically active. Alan explained, “There would be times when my wife would say, ‘right we’re going for a drive’, just to get me out of the house. She would literally drive me to the archery range, she would say, ‘you’re getting out in your wheelchair and you’re going to do some archery’.”
“I can guarantee you, when she would turn up, I would be like, ‘can you give me another hour or can you give me another half hour’, it was massive, absolutely massive,” Alan said.
Alan was selected to compete in the Warrior Games – a competition that takes place between members from the American Invictus Games training squad and other nations.
Whilst competing in the Warrior Games, Alan travelled to Tampa Florida and Las Vegas, competing against a team made of ex US Air Force personnel. Alan said, “I’ve been very fortunate to go and do that and to come back with medals on both occasions.”
Whilst on home soil, Alan has started competing in Scottish Disability Sport’s (SDS) National Championships. In November 2024, Alan entered the National Archery Championships and won silver in his category.
“It was quite surreal really,” said Alan.
“At the end, I was just packing up, having a drink, and then the announcement came out. I was pretty shocked that I had actually done that well. It was a nice surprise on a day that I wasn’t feeling absolutely good, it was really, really nice.”
Reflecting on the impact sport has had on his life, he said: “Without sport, my previous 40 years of being a sportsman and serviceman, they sort of disappeared. Then the adaptive sports came in, and then I started feeling a bit more like I used to be.”
He continued to say, “It gives me a bit of inner peace when I am doing my sports.”
He went on to say: “It’s like stepping out of the darkness and into the light.”
If you would be interested in finding out more about SDS and how sport and physical activity can support you, sign up to attend SDS’s first ever National Exhibition Event. The event is free and is being held at the University of Stirling on Saturday 14th June. The event will allow people from all over Scotland to interact with all elements of SDS in one place.
You can also find out more about what sporting opportunities are available in your community by contacting your Regional Development Manager. To keep up-to-date on all of the ongoing work, make sure to follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, X and Instagram, as well as on the SDS website.