Rower with epilepsy breaks championship record at BRIC

A rower living with epilepsy has broken the championship record for the Open Indoor Adaptive Rowing (IAR)7 2,000m event at the British Rowing Indoor Championships (BRIC) on Saturday 5 December.

Aidan Leverage, 20, from Leicester, took on the challenge in Birmingham this year in support of Epilepsy Action, achieving a time of 6:36.9 in the category for people with physical, sensory or learning impairments.

He also competed in his age group, coming seventh the under 23 category with a time of 6:48.2. So far, he has raised more than £1,000 for Epilepsy Action.

Aidan was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of four, facing uncontrolled seizures with no known cause of triggers. He chose to support Epilepsy Action as this was the organisation his parents turned to when he was first diagnosed with the condition.

He said: “When look back, I can’t even imagine how stressful it was for my parents, worrying about me, not knowing when my next seizure would be.

“That’s why my parents have always turned to Epilepsy Action for help when they felt completely lost.

“I want to be living proof for parents out there that it does get better.”

Olympic gold medallist and world champion British rower Lauren Henry, who comes from the same small town as Aidan, was among those cheering him on.

Ahead of the race, she said: “I want to wish Aidan all the very best for his incredible challenge at BRIC this year. He’s overcome some huge obstacles and continues to inspire everyone with his resilience and determination. I’m sure he’ll have a fantastic day at BRIC and absolutely smash it!”

“I feel unstoppable”

Aidan was hospitalised around 14 times due to tonic-clonic seizures, and he has lost lots of his childhood memory due to his epilepsy.

He tried many different medications and eventually found a treatment that has controlled his epilepsy for the past few years.

Aidan explained: “I found my childhood with epilepsy quite difficult. I faced a lot of stigma, I was excluded from activities as a child, and was known as the ‘weird kid with epilepsy’. Some parents were even scared their child would ‘catch it’ and so I was left out of things.

“I was really into my rugby and football when I was a kid. My parents have told me that sometimes I would simply stop and stare, mid-game, and other parents would shout at me from the sidelines. What they didn’t understand was that I was having a seizure. Eventually, for my own safety as well as others, I had to stop my rugby and football.

“Now I have finally found a medication that works, I feel unstoppable. I started rowing after being introduced to the sport by my dad. I joined Leicester Rowing Club who were amazing with my epilepsy. They were very caring and cautious of my condition.

“Although I am seizure free, my medications still have tough side effects. I can be very tired and experience mood swings – getting up at five or six am to be on the water can be difficult!

“I am now rowing for Anglia Ruskin University, where I’m studying. Being a rower with a disability can be hard at times, but I want to show people that there is nothing that should stop you from pushing yourself. My message isn’t going to people with epilepsy, it’s to everyone.

“Lots of doctors said I wouldn’t achieve anything. I was told I would struggle academically and that I may not do anything in sport as I’d struggle there too. I was told it would be best to find an easy sport for me.

“I’ve rejected those ideas. I’ve chosen to be a high achiever and not be held back by what some doctor is going to tell me.”

“Empowered to live their lives”

Rebekah Smith, chief executive at Epilepsy Action, said: “Aidan’s resilience and determination are extraordinary, and we are confident he will inspire many others, with and without epilepsy, to push themselves.

“The 2000 metre individual race is one of the toughest in rowing, so Aidan completing it twice in one day is truly remarkable.

“Representation of people with epilepsy in sport is so important. Whilst precautions should always be taken, epilepsy should never be a barrier to participation.

“It’s heartbreaking to hear of the exclusion Aidan faced as a child, which is why it is so important that the public understand epilepsy and the types of seizures.

“By 2030, Epilepsy Action hope to see a ‘World Without Limits’ for people with epilepsy – we want everyone with the condition to feel empowered to live their lives to the fullest.

“Aidan is a powerful example of the incredible resilience so many people with epilepsy show, and how overcoming these challenges can sometimes help people to go further in life.”