DOBBIN Beth

General
FINANCIAL CONCERNS
In 2018 she was working four part-time jobs to fund her athletics career. In 2019 she cut this down to one part-time receptionist position at Loughborough University, helped by funding from British Athletics. "It's so much easier now [speaking in 2019] and I'm really pleased the hard work is paying off. I'm not now working eight-hour days before I train. That's made such a huge difference. This time last year [2018], I had to turn down the Anniversary Games [in London, England] because I couldn't get my shift covered at work. Training has been so much easier. I just roll out of bed, go to the track, whereas last year [2018] I was getting up at 06:00, working eight hours and then training after. It was horrible really. I've now got a bit of funding from British Athletics and my sponsors." (telegraph.co.uk, 20 Jul 2019)

EPILEPSY
She has epilepsy, and was diagnosed with the condition at age 13 when she experienced a seizure that left her unconscious for 15 minutes. "When I woke up, I was paralysed through the whole left side of my body, even the left side of my face. When I got taken to the hospital, the doctors were asking all these questions and I just couldn't get any words out. I couldn't walk and I couldn't recognise my dad. It was a scary time." She came off medication for epilepsy in 2017, but was also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] and anxiety. "I had no idea what was going on. Because all of my symptoms were physical, I was convinced it wasn't anxiety. If I'd have known that before, I probably would have got help a lot sooner. I'm appreciating running, whatever speed I run, because there was a point where I couldn't even walk, so it just puts everything into perspective. I'm just so proud that I've overcome that and finally got to where I want to be. It might have taken a lot longer than I wanted but it's definitely been worth it. The worst part about epilepsy is kind of how it plays on your mind and the worries you have about a seizure striking. It still never goes away. Every day you think about it and worry, 'Will a seizure strike today?'." (inews.co.uk, 06 Jun 2019; epilepsyscotland.org.uk, 22 Apr 2021)