HUNTER SPIVEY Jack

Classification
TT5 (ipttc.org, 01 Apr 2020)

Type of Impairment
Cerebral Palsy (ymliverpool.com, 02 Sep 2016)

Impairment Details
He was completely deaf and blind for nine months after birth. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was 18 months old. (ymliverpool.com, 02 Sep 2016; thestar.co.uk, 24 Apr 2018)

General
MENTAL HEALTH
He has spoken openly about struggling with his mental health during his sporting career. "I've always felt different to everyone else and in a bit of a bubble, a bit self-conscious about stuff. It came to a head in training. I had a two-week breakdown where I didn't really know what was going on, at training I was crying uncontrollably. I don't really remember this period too well. But my coaches told me I was coming in the same kit, I wasn't showering. I was fighting against them saying, 'I'm fine, I'll just do some washing'. In my house I was turning mirrors round. I was so horrible in my own head. Just after that, aged 19 or 20, I tried to take my own life. I rang my mum and said, 'I'm sorry, I can't live like this any more'. Luckily my roommate heard me, came in and took the tablets. I've been through some very dark times. Everyone's open about talking about disabilities, why can't we talk about mental health in the same way? Statistically one in four struggle with mental health problems in some way." (thestar.co.uk, 24 Apr 2018)

CHARITY WORK
He has served as an ambassador for Humanity & Inclusion UK, a charity that works to help people who have impairments and are vulnerable. "I became an ambassador for HI in March 2019. It's such an amazing charity, helping disabled people not just in England and in Europe but around the world in situations that are so extreme, like war-torn countries. In today's society we don't actually see a lot in the media about disabled people and how they are treated and helped in these extreme circumstances." (Humanity & Inclusion UK YouTube channel, 09 Jul 2020)