VIDEO: Wheelchair bound GAA star Jamie Wall: ‘I don’t feel like giving up’
Jamie Wall, the Cork underage star whose life was turned upside down by illness last year, has given an in-depth interview about his life and his road to recovery.
Wall was a rising star in Cork GAA , playing for Cork in the 2013 All-Ireland U21 football final and also excelling at hurling.
His life was turned on its head last summer when a bacterial illness led to an abscess on his spine. He was operated on, but the compression on his spine left him unable to move his legs and confined to a wheelchair.
The indomitable athlete has worked tirelessly on his rehabilitation since then, and spoke to Marty Morrissey on RTE last night about the journey.
It has been a difficult and traumatic year for the young man and his family, but Jamie is adamant he will not give up on his dream of walking again.
“Who’s going to keep fighting for you if you give up on yourself?” he said. “I haven’t given up on walking again.
“The odds aren’t what I’d like them to be, but so what?”
Jamie draws huge strength from the support he has received from around the country.
“People want you to do this, you know,” he explained “That’s what inspires me, the level of support I’ve gotten from the large group I’ve gotten it from.”
At 7pm on Saturday April 25 the Cork hurlers will take on Kilkenny in a challenge match at Páirc Uí Rinn, with all proceeds going to help Jamie with his recovery.
This game can't get enough coverage and RT's. Please support @OfficialCorkGAA @KilkennyCLG and @officialgaa pic.twitter.com/MOEEk2KnlV
— Diarmuid O'Sullivan (@dsully3) April 23, 2015
He described the GAA as his family, and spoke movingly of the support he continues to receive from the organisation.
“I invested so much of my life (in the GAA),” Jamie said.
"And when it all hit the fan, the GAA was there to back me up.”
Just seen interview with Jamie Wall on rte news. Unbelievable positivity and outlook on life. #perspective
— Conor McManus (@ConorMcManus_15) April 23, 2015
Tickets for the game are available from Centra and Supervalu and at tickets.ie.
You can find out more about the Friends of Jamie Wall group here.
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