Get on Track Case Study - Sean Stoakes

Before 'Get on Track', Sean had lost all confidence, would feel awkward in people's company and avoid any social situations. Sean felt isolated and had even attempted suicide on more than one occasion. Sean felt he "was existing, and not living and didn't even want to live anymore."

Made to feel like he was worthless by his 'best friends' time and time again, people came increasingly threatening and ultimately violent towards Sean, which led to his downward spiral into depression.

At the age of 16, Sean was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Sean's needle phobia and the thought of 4 injections a day for the rest of his life seemed so impossible that he just gave up altogether - his legs began to harden from the injections, which made it more and more painful. He began to lose a lot of weight from avoiding insulin and eating sweets. His life of sadness and low self-esteem, both mentally and physically, led to Sean getting Background Retinopathy - the first stage of diabetic blindness.

Sean's low self-worth caused him to drop out of college. All of this had an effect on his family life, especially his relationship with his 13 year old sister. It was up to Sean's mother to help him, as she was the one to get in touch with the Trust to enroll Sean on a place on the 'Get on Track' programme. Despite initial apprehensions, Sean went along anyway, simply because he wanted to take every possible shot at changing his life.

Each athlete mentor saw the development in Sean's self-esteem and confidence, and this was epitomised in the first phase of the project, 'On your Marks'. The second day in this phase put Sean's newly acquired confidence to the test as he was selected to stand in front of the whole group and dance. Although he was reluctant just before taking centre stage, he was euphoric once he had done it and took a great step in involving himself with the group and increasing his self-esteem.

Despite entering 'Get on Track' without an ounce of self-confidence and not knowing a single person on the project, Sean went on to immerse himself in all of the activities and became a fully fledge member of the team. His time spent volunteering at a special needs farm with UBS encouraged him to make positive changes to his attitude to his diabetes and taking insulin. As a result of his hard work with his athlete mentors, he has made great stepping stones into making a positive change to his life. Firstly, by keeping to a daily timetable on when to get up and take his insulin, and secondly, through engaging in his passion of skateboarding. He now regularly visits his local skate park to work on his skills with a fellow Get on Track graduate Tim.

Sean was the first to admit the impact 'Get on Track' had on his life. He said: "The confidence skills I have gained through 'Get on Track' have also given me a reason to do my injections, because I finally care about myself again, and see myself having a future for the first time in my life.

"Though I am still uncertain about what my future holds, I feel that Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy trust really has changed my life, and I hope it continues to benefit other people as much as it has me."