'I woke up with no feeling in my legs - now I'm doing a triathlon'

Footballer Martha Sharland's life changed overnight when she woke up with no feeling below her waist.

The former Hereford FC player went to hospital on 31 October, 2024, and after undergoing many tests was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

An estimated 50,000 to 100,000 people live with FND, which has left Sharland unable to walk, as well as affecting her speech and short-term memory.

Two years on, she is preparing to take on a challenge she once feared she had lost forever - completing a triathlon to raise money and awareness for people living with the condition.

The 22-year-old has been invited to join two Paralympians in Marvel's Celebrity Sprint Superhero Tri race, which takes place on Saturday at Dorney Lake, near Windsor.

"I'm on a team with Fi Cranswick, an Invictus Games medallist, and British multi-Paralympian club throwing champion Stephen Miller. That's so inspiring," she said.

Sharland will also take on the longest, most challenging distance of the Full Superhero Tri, which includes a 750m open water swim in Dorney Lake, a 20km bike ride and a final 5km push/run to the finish.

Back in autumn 2024, the future appeared bleak when Sharland was handed a fact sheet about her condition after being discharged from hospital.

She says she was told that, because she was a sports coach, she could probably rehabilitate herself.

"Quite simply, there was nothing available to me on the NHS locally," she said.

"I was in a 'dead zone' for care with this condition. With no NHS support, I had no referrals to specialists for further help."

Sharland said she had to find and fund her own private rehabilitation which includes neuro physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, osteopathy and neurology.

Her condition also meant the family home in Hereford had to be adapted to meet her needs, with her builder father carrying out the work himself.

He turned the family dining room into her new bedroom, installed a wet room downstairs, replaced steps with ramps and paved over the gravel drive.

After being discharged from hospital in November 2024, Sharland continued working as a sports coach, delivering sessions in primary schools with an adapted approach.

"I use a manual wheelchair which can be physically hard work - in effect, my arms are my legs now."

She believes it is important for young children to see someone with a disability among them, working alongside them.

"Children are naturally inquisitive and I love that when I'm with them, no-one is treading on eggshells around me," she said.

"They ask questions, get answers and get on with it."

Sharland started playing football at four and progressed through grassroots, academy and county levels before most recently representing Hereford Ladies in an FA Cup match.

"Playing football gave me a wonderful sense of freedom and release from day-to-day pressures," she said.

"The best way to describe it is sport has always been everything I've ever known, it's always been my life."

She had always wanted to complete a triathlon and had planned to take on six during 2025.

But her sudden paralysis put those plans on hold.

She feared she would never have the opportunity until her neuro physiotherapist told her about the Superhero Tri.

"I took one look at the website and thought, 'this is it'," she said.

"Here was my opportunity to take on my first disability triathlon event and, importantly, feel physically and psychologically safe doing so."

Sharland will use a hired handcycle for the bike section and manually power her wheelchair for the final stretch.

Her mother Kelly will help her during the transition phases, including getting out of the water, changing and moving onto her adapted bike before helping her transition back to her wheelchair.

Her neuro physiotherapist will run alongside her during the final section so they can cross the finish line together.

"It would essentially be really easy to roll over but I want to get back to being as close as I was before," Sharland said.

"FND has changed my life forever but it hasn't taken away my determination which is both a privilege and a power."

Sharland has already raised more than £4,000 so far, with the money being split between funding further treatment for her own recovery and FND Hope, an international charity supporting people with FND.

"I haven't had an easy ride but have learned a lot along the way," she said.

"Now I want to help other people who find themselves in my situation help them avoid experiencing the knockbacks I had."

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