Don't Give Up | Martin's Story
April 21, 2024
When we asked Martin for one piece of advice that has guided him through life, he replied: “Don’t give up”.
Those three words highlight the determination and resilience that has shaped his life and made him the person he is today.
We were lucky enough to speak to Martin recently, and we learned what a kind, selfless and tenacious person he is. It takes a unique kind of strength to remain so persistent in the face of such adversity, a different kind of strength altogether to his career in weightlifting.
Because in 2022, Martin was diagnosed with MND.
But Martin’s admirable spirit existed long before his diagnosis. Back when he was 13, Martin decided to take up weightlifting and was soon the epitome of a “promising junior”. Though that all changed when Martin broke his elbow during a training exercise when he was 16.
Despite this, Martin refused to give up. Instead, he channelled his setback into fuel for his determination after countless doctors told him he would have to give up weightlifting. Martin’s simple answer: “No”.
The more they said I’d have to give it up, the more my future ambition to represent Australia slipped away from me… the more determined I became.
Martin went on to represent Australia over 20 times in weightlifting, placing 5th at the World Championships.
To be elite, you have to explore the boundaries of possibility.
Martin trained hard for 18 years, often lifting up to 30,000kg in a single day. But tragically, a dislocated shoulder shattered his dreams of being in the 1988 Olympics and ended his athletic career.
It was the challenges and hardships of being an athlete that allowed Martin to go on to be the caring, empathetic high-performance sports coach that he was. “It was my understanding of human failure that made me a better coach than an athlete, in my opinion.”
After years of working as a high-performance coach, Martin and his wife went into business together, a business that created opportunities to employ up to 90 people in regional Victoria.
In 2020, Martin went for an annual check-up at the doctor’s. What was meant to be a routine appointment led to noticing a limp, which led to a discovery much more insidious. Martin was diagnosed with MND in 2022. Three months later, he discovered he had renal cancer. A 1.5kg tumour was removed from his abdomen and Martin was given three months to live.
What’s going to get me first, the MND or the cancer?
But despite the horrific circumstances, the odds were in Martin’s favour. He’s part of the 40% of people who respond positively to the cancer treatment, and he has well and truly defied his initial prognosis. His children, who were 16 at the time of his diagnosis, have now had their 18th birthdays. Though having stepped back from his business, the business is still flourishing. And his refusal to “sit on his hands” has led Martin to take on the Virtual: Your Relay, Your Way challenge this April to help raise funds for other people living with MND.
Through his journey, Martin has embodied the power of resilience and the importance of facing adversity with courage and perseverance. Not only is he working towards ensuring he makes the most of his time with his loved ones, Martin also strives to give back to the MND community.
As part of the Your Relay, Your Way challenge this month, Martin has been working towards riding his bike for 251 minutes throughout the 30 days — a challenge that raises funds to ensure the ongoing support, care and equipment for people with MND, like him.
An MND and cancer diagnosis was never going to stop someone like Martin.
Being the determined person he is, Martin saw his diagnosis as an opportunity to leverage his passion for challenge and charity into something that could help so many.
As Martin continues his journey with MND and cancer, his message resonates loud and clear: "Don't give up." His story serves as an inspiration to all, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is strength in perseverance, and hope in the human spirit. Martin's journey is a testament to the power of determination — a legacy that will endure.
#NeverGiveUp
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