A SURFER who took to the water to aid her recovery after being seriously unwell has been crowned a Scottish champion.
Justine Barker found herself in hospital seven years ago while she was pregnant with twins.
Since then, she has been diagnosed with a number of conditions, which took her from being “a normal working mum to being in hospital not able to move my left side properly”.
However, after it was suggested she visit Groundswell Scotland, she has found a love of the sea and surfing.
That culminated earlier this month after winning the Scottish Parasurfing Championships at Ratho.
She said: “It feels actually brilliant.
“I tried so hard and it has been a really hard journey.
“I started kneeling but my body has got more sick since I started and now I surf on my stomach.
“I feel so proud of myself.
“I was told all sorts of things from various people – it was a stupid idea, it was dangerous, I am too old – but I am just really proud for sticking to it.
“I love it so much.”
Barker, 46, was 20 weeks pregnant with twins in 2019 when she suffered organ failure and found out she had underlying auto-immune problems.
She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, axial spondyloarthritis and issues with her spine.
The various conditions limited what she could do outdoors, where she had a passion for skateboarding, snowboarding and running.
From there, a friend recommended she try Groundswell Scotland, which is based in Dunbar.
The charity harnesses the power of the sea “to help women heal, grow and connect”.
Barker, of Prestonpans, said: “I went along on the first day and I have always been a strong swimmer and enjoyed going in the sea and wakeboarding.
“I was absolutely petrified and cannot really explain why.
“I just did not trust my body and Sally Harris, who runs Groundswell Scotland, and one of the other facilitators stood either side of me and got me into the sea.
“I was just walking in the sea, got up to my knees and something happened.
“I was diving in, playing in the waves, and I got a shot of a surfboard.
“I never had a shot before and I just got it quite quickly.”
From there, the mum-of-four’s love of the sport has only grown.
She travelled to take part in the English Open and found “a community who made me feel a lot more positive”.
That only inspired her further and, working alongside Inclusive Surfing Scotland and Scottish Surfing, she has gone on to become a champion.
She said: “I am pretty disabled and it feels like I am treading treacle all day long.
“I cannot walk or do anything I used to enjoy, but I feel so free in the water.
“I feel light and float and move around.
“It is amazing and you feel like you are flying.
“You cannot think about anything else but the next wave you are on.”
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