When Andy Johns suffered a stroke and lost part of his sight, everyday tasks – like crossing the road safely suddenly became daunting.
But after turning to a sport he had loved as a boy, Andy has rebuilt his confidence. Thanks to table tennis , he has regained vision, improved hand-eye coordination and, just as importantly, found a place where he truly belongs.
In the months after his haemorrhage, Andy’s vision started to come back. His Occupational Therapist suggested table tennis as a way to further improve his hand-eye coordination and widen his field of vision.
So, he returned to a sport he knew from childhood. And even better, Gilwern Table Tennis Club was on his doorstep.
When Andy first started going along, driving was still out of the question. But club member Kevin Phillips, an old friend, happily picked him up and dropped him home each week.
At first, he struggled. The stroke had affected his reflexes and backhand, and blind spots in his vision caused him to miss some shots. But with three years of persistence and determination, Andy has bounced back and is once again a bit of a dab hand at the table.
While Andy may be a little slower at reading, he can now do almost everything he did before the stroke. And what does he put his recovery down to? Playing table tennis at Gilwern Table Tennis Club.
These local clubs are especially important in a rural area like Monmouthshire. The club has really helped me recover from my stroke, but I’m also back playing a sport I love with a fabulous bunch of friendly people.
The club offers vital opportunities in rural Monmouthsire. Thanks £1,740 of National Lottery funding from Sport Wales’ Be Active Wales Fund, it has been able to open its doors to Andy and other players.
With the grant, the club has bought:
National Lottery funding from Sport Wales has enabled us to buy more tables, more equipment and run sessions in a bigger venue. We’re also really proud to support people like Andy who has used the sport to help manage health conditions.
The club’s impact has been huge. The number of people coming to play table tennis has quadrupled.
Gilwern Tennis Club now boasts:
From memories of playing on a table in his front room as an eight-year-old boy to rallying again with new friends at 75, Andy has come full circle.
At Gilwern Table Tennis Club, Andy has found more than recovery in table tennis. Welcomed by club members on their own health journeys, he has found friendship, joy and belonging.
Thinking of helping people in your community thrive through sport? The Be Active Wales Fund could help you make that difference.
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