Spirit of Sport Northern Ireland winner Helen Logan 'motivated and able'
Helen Logan was born with a condition called Spina Bifida and has now set up a charity called Motived and Able to help those who have disabilities and struggle with their mental health.
Located in the town of Ballymoney, Helen wants to make a difference.
Approximately one in every thousand children are born with Spina Bifida in Northern Ireland.
According to a 2025 survey from the Spina Bifida Association it highlighted that: 'Social difficulties, including immaturity and passivity, fewer friends and fewer social contacts outside are important issues with children with Spina Bifida, and this tends to continue into adulthood'.
This shows that people who have Spina Bifida struggle emotionally alongside dealing with this condition.
After winning the award in 2024 for Inspirational Woman of the Year and the 2025 Spirit of Northern Ireland Award, Helen wants to help people in similar situations like her.
Her aims are to lift others who grapple with pain and hopelessness.
Helen commented 'the biggest thing holding me back is pain', she shares her personal battles with depression and the challenges of adapting to her condition.
'I was in bed for months on end with pain and the only way to get me out of bed was to accept a wheelchair', trying to adapt to a life changing situation.
Spina Bifida causes Helen to experience pain daily.
Accepting the fact that the only way that she could go about her life was to adapt to her wheelchair was hard as she explained, 'I was in a dark place but accepting the chair changed my life for the better'.
Her message is clear: movement and acceptance are vital for a fulfilling life. Helen is offering workshops to help power individuals to take control of their narratives, encouraging them to find strength in their circumstances.
As Helen continues her work, she aims to organise a four-week workshop, collaborate with local charities, and represent Northern Ireland through her athletic pursuits and motivational speaking.
Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of resilience, community, and the unwavering spirit to overcome life's challenges.
Reflecting on her childhood, Helen recalls the numerous surgeries and the challenges of wearing calipers. Her mother's unwavering support served as the foundation for her resilience, instilling in her the belief that she could overcome any obstacle.
Grace, a dedicated coach who works at a gym called Forge Fitness located in Ballymoney, played a critical role in Helen's journey, fostering a welcoming atmosphere that helped her overcome initial fears.
Helen recalls the warmth she felt, especially when Grace made her and her daughter feel at home during their first visit.
Helen recalls: 'I was a bit hesitant as I had been to three other gyms and the minute I said Spina Bifida, and the minute they saw the chair, they almost took this giant step back'.
Helen opens up about people seeing someone who is a wheelchair user as she said, 'I think it's fear'. But Forge Fitness's supportive environment allowed Helen to focus on her fitness goals, opening doors to new possibilities.
Helen's determination has not only inspired her but also those around her.
Grace emphasises the importance of creating an inclusive space, where individuals can pursue their fitness goals without feeling marginalised.
Grace said 'my impression of Helen was this is another woman who wants to join the gym', growing up with a brother who has special needs Grace understands that sometimes people needs are different and that is okay.
Understanding this makes the bond formed between Grace and Helen positive as Grace has tailored workouts that prioritise Helen's strengths, further motivating others in the community.
Taking the disability out of it, Grace highlighted 'just because Helen's in the chair it doesn't make her needs different from anyone else. She wants to get fitter. She wants to feel her best self. She has a goal."
Grace asked the question 'here's a woman that wants to do her best, how can we help her, the same goes for every woman who enters this gym'.
Not being asked about her disability, Helen felt that she was not labelled as just an ordinary woman.
'I did not want our conversations and our sessions to become labelled because actually there is so much more you can do with Spina Bifida than maybe other people', Grace said.
Grace described her attitude for every member who enters the gym, 'For every woman who comes in here, it's not oh, you're menopausal, oh you're over fifty, oh you've got three kids'.
Grace reinforced that 'yes you are a woman let's see what we can achieve without any boxes'.
Forge Fitness has named some of the exercises after Helen as they don't exist in the world as they are adapted for Helen's needs as Grace explained, 'We have come up with new exercises as it's like, well how can I help Helen achieve this, let's do this movement but change it so that it suits Helen'.
Helen also stated: 'It's just so good as I train with the other girls and there's not a difference made which is great'.
As Helen continues her work, she aims to organise a four-week workshop, collaborate with local charities, and represent Northern Ireland through her athletic pursuits and motivational speaking.
Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of resilience, community, and the unwavering spirit to overcome life's challenges.
Helen will be speaking at events taking place on Wednesday 30th of July at 2pm and Thursday the 28th of August. These talks will be located in the Oasis Centre in Abbey Street, Coleraine.
In a world that often overlooks the power of inclusivity, Helen stands as a symbol of hope, proving that with the right support, anyone can rise above their circumstances and inspire others along the way.
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Harvey Morrison's parents speak out after the death of their son
Even before he was born into the world, Harvey Morrison was fighting for his life. His parents Gillian and Stephen were told during her first scans that their unborn son had spina bifida and would probably not survive birth. 'The hospital kept mentioning termination. They kept saying, 'You're only young, it's your first child, you can go again. This will be a burden on you for the rest of your life.' Harvey was anything but a burden,' Gillian said. When she had her 36-week scan, it was suggested it might be best if they made the baby comfortable and let him pass when he was born as he might not survive. Gillian made her way home distraught. 'I felt under pressure to give up on him before he was even born.' That night she and Stephen promised to do whatever it took to help their son. 'We went back in and told them to do everything medically possible to keep him alive,' Stephen said. 'He changed us as human beings. He shaped us morally. He just changed who we were.' The Morrisons are grieving the loss of their eldest son, whose unexpected death on July 29 has provoked public outrage. For years, they had fought in vain to secure better services, healthcare and surgery for Harvey's scoliosis. #Justiceforharvey has been trending all week. The boy's death has led to opposition calls for the tanaiste Simon Harris to resign, after he failed to organise a promised meeting about the boy's condition when he was taoiseach. Here, Harvey's parents tell the full story of what happened for the first time. Gillian was 23 when she became pregnant with Harvey. At the time she was planning a career in childcare. 'I actually wanted to work with children with additional needs,' she said. 'When I was told about Harvey, it just felt so fitting.' Harvey was born on January 15, 2016, by planned caesarean section. The Morrisons soon adjusted to life as full-time carers, with Gillian receiving an allowance and some support services. Then Harvey began to fail. He would scream and vomit repeatedly. Gillian suspected allergies and she says her concerns were dismissed. The family's real struggle began when Harvey's scoliosis worsened. He had been born with a Z-shaped spine. 'That's what they said he looked like in the scan,' Gillian said. 'I didn't really know much about scoliosis then.' Medics told the Morrisons that controlling Harvey's spinal curve was literally a matter of life or death — but operating on someone so young carried serious risks. 'Harvey was too ill to operate on. So we watched and waited to see how it would progress. But it seemed to get worse very quickly,' Gillian said. They discussed a traction system attached to his wheelchair — a method normally used for short periods before surgery to correct posture. In Harvey's case it would have meant eight or nine years of continuous use, robbing him of any quality of life and requiring full-time nursing. 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Then it was 'crisps', 'lollipop' and 'drink'. And then 'wheelchair'. It completely transformed his life and ours. We were beginning to think about holidays. We were just in the process of booking one, and rearranging the house … when he got sick.' How quickly everything can change.' Harvey died in the early hours of July 29. He had fallen ill just days earlier, during a street party outside his home in Clondalkin. Gillian was the first to notice something was wrong — he had broken his leg. 'I brought him into the children's department at Connolly Hospital, but they sent him to Temple Street,' she said. At Temple Street, an X-ray confirmed a clean break. His leg was put in a cast and they returned home. But later that day, Gillian noticed he was breathing rapidly and felt hot. She took him back to hospital. Overnight, doctors struggled to bring down his heart rate and could not find a source of infection. 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Edinburgh Live
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- Edinburgh Live
British mum 'had no idea' she was pregnant until she gave birth in toilet on holiday
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A Brit woman who had no idea she was pregnant ended up having a baby when she went to the toilet while on holiday in Canada. Helen and Michael Green, both 45, arrived in Toronto, Canada on May 21 for their ten day road trip with their daughter, Darcy, six - unaware that Helen was nine months pregnant. When Helen woke up with tummy pains in the middle of the night and went to the bathroom she suddenly felt an "urge to push" and looked down to see a baby. Helen had experienced a cryptic pregnancy - when a person doesn't realise they are pregnant until late in the pregnancy or even during labour - she even had a regular period. But the family are now delighted with their little surprise who they have named Olivia, 11 weeks old. Helen, who works in financial services, from Bristol, said: "This was such a huge huge shock, and also such a lovely surprise. "She just came along and it feels like she's always been with us. Everything feels complete now, she has made us all so happy. "Even the doctors at the hospital were really surprised. I had no idea at all that I was pregnant, everything seemed completely normal. "I worked, exercised, wore the same clothes and ate the same food as usual." Michael, who works in financial services, said: "It's so crazy and still feels surreal. It's been such a bonkers time. "She's such a joy!" Helen, who also has an 18-year-old son Harry, had no symptoms during her pregnancy and had a series of miscarriages after giving birth to Darcy so thought she was perimenopausal. She said she had "massive bumps" with her first two pregnancies and continued to go to the gym four times a week whilst unaware she was expecting. The family had just arrived on their holiday and were all tucked up in their Holiday Inn room by 11pm. Helen woke at 1.45am with tummy pains and went to the bathroom. She sat down on the loo, felt something slip into the toilet and looked down and saw a baby - which she scooped up and cuddled. Helen said: "I had no idea what was happening, my body just took over. "After two massive pushes there was a baby so I picked her up out of the loo and held her in my arms." Michael woke up to hear Olivia, who was born weighing 8lbs 3oz, crying - initially thinking the sound was coming from the next door room - and was shocked when he found his wife in the bathroom with their newborn. He called 911 and an ambulance, and fire crew were sent to help - arriving within ten minutes - and Helen and Olivia were taken to mount sinai hospital to be checked over. Michael said: "I was in such a daze, we could hardly work out what was going on. We didn't know if the baby was well or whether it was full term. We didn't even check to see whether it was a boy or a girl - a paramedic told us. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. "In the hospital they kept asking me about the pregnancy and I couldn't answer them, I just kept saying 'I don't know'." The couple sent messages to friends and family saying, 'don't worry but Helen is in hospital', with a picture of Darcy holding baby Olivia - everyone was shocked and delighted. They named Olivia after one of the nurses in the hospital. Mum and baby were discharged the next day, but Olivia had no documents and couldn't leave Canada - they had to extend their stay while they waited for Olivia's birth certificate and her passport. Helen said: "Registering her birth was a nightmare. All we had were discharge papers from hospital. There was confusion over whether she was a home birth because she was born in a hotel, or a hospital birth because the placenta was delivered in hospital. "We had to get signed statements from doctors and paramedics. It was very draining and stressful." They were finally able to fly home on June 25 and estimate the trip cost them £9,000 extra - £4,000 in hospital fees, over £2,000 on hotels, and nearly £1,000 on the hire car, flights home, baby equipment and living costs. But the family say most of their costs will hopefully be covered by their travel insurance. The family were able to take Olivia up the CN tower at just four days old, watch three baseball games and visited Niagara Falls twice. Helen said: "Ultimately we got an extended holiday and had a really really special time together. It was very hard not knowing how long we would be there, and very stressful on week days chasing the birth certificate and passport, but great at the weekends when all the offices were closed and there was nothing we could do about it. "Getting your head round having a baby is hard, but it's something else when you didn't know you were pregnant. "Within a few days it just started to feel familiar that I had a baby, and such a joy."
ITV News
3 days ago
- ITV News
Spirit of Sport Northern Ireland winner Helen Logan 'motivated and able'
'If I can help one other person it will all be worth it', explained Helen Logan who is this year's Spirit of Sport Northern Ireland Winner. Helen Logan was born with a condition called Spina Bifida and has now set up a charity called Motived and Able to help those who have disabilities and struggle with their mental health. Located in the town of Ballymoney, Helen wants to make a difference. Approximately one in every thousand children are born with Spina Bifida in Northern Ireland. According to a 2025 survey from the Spina Bifida Association it highlighted that: 'Social difficulties, including immaturity and passivity, fewer friends and fewer social contacts outside are important issues with children with Spina Bifida, and this tends to continue into adulthood'. This shows that people who have Spina Bifida struggle emotionally alongside dealing with this condition. After winning the award in 2024 for Inspirational Woman of the Year and the 2025 Spirit of Northern Ireland Award, Helen wants to help people in similar situations like her. Her aims are to lift others who grapple with pain and hopelessness. Helen commented 'the biggest thing holding me back is pain', she shares her personal battles with depression and the challenges of adapting to her condition. 'I was in bed for months on end with pain and the only way to get me out of bed was to accept a wheelchair', trying to adapt to a life changing situation. Spina Bifida causes Helen to experience pain daily. Accepting the fact that the only way that she could go about her life was to adapt to her wheelchair was hard as she explained, 'I was in a dark place but accepting the chair changed my life for the better'. Her message is clear: movement and acceptance are vital for a fulfilling life. Helen is offering workshops to help power individuals to take control of their narratives, encouraging them to find strength in their circumstances. As Helen continues her work, she aims to organise a four-week workshop, collaborate with local charities, and represent Northern Ireland through her athletic pursuits and motivational speaking. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of resilience, community, and the unwavering spirit to overcome life's challenges. Reflecting on her childhood, Helen recalls the numerous surgeries and the challenges of wearing calipers. Her mother's unwavering support served as the foundation for her resilience, instilling in her the belief that she could overcome any obstacle. Grace, a dedicated coach who works at a gym called Forge Fitness located in Ballymoney, played a critical role in Helen's journey, fostering a welcoming atmosphere that helped her overcome initial fears. Helen recalls the warmth she felt, especially when Grace made her and her daughter feel at home during their first visit. Helen recalls: 'I was a bit hesitant as I had been to three other gyms and the minute I said Spina Bifida, and the minute they saw the chair, they almost took this giant step back'. Helen opens up about people seeing someone who is a wheelchair user as she said, 'I think it's fear'. But Forge Fitness's supportive environment allowed Helen to focus on her fitness goals, opening doors to new possibilities. Helen's determination has not only inspired her but also those around her. Grace emphasises the importance of creating an inclusive space, where individuals can pursue their fitness goals without feeling marginalised. Grace said 'my impression of Helen was this is another woman who wants to join the gym', growing up with a brother who has special needs Grace understands that sometimes people needs are different and that is okay. Understanding this makes the bond formed between Grace and Helen positive as Grace has tailored workouts that prioritise Helen's strengths, further motivating others in the community. Taking the disability out of it, Grace highlighted 'just because Helen's in the chair it doesn't make her needs different from anyone else. She wants to get fitter. She wants to feel her best self. She has a goal." Grace asked the question 'here's a woman that wants to do her best, how can we help her, the same goes for every woman who enters this gym'. Not being asked about her disability, Helen felt that she was not labelled as just an ordinary woman. 'I did not want our conversations and our sessions to become labelled because actually there is so much more you can do with Spina Bifida than maybe other people', Grace said. Grace described her attitude for every member who enters the gym, 'For every woman who comes in here, it's not oh, you're menopausal, oh you're over fifty, oh you've got three kids'. Grace reinforced that 'yes you are a woman let's see what we can achieve without any boxes'. Forge Fitness has named some of the exercises after Helen as they don't exist in the world as they are adapted for Helen's needs as Grace explained, 'We have come up with new exercises as it's like, well how can I help Helen achieve this, let's do this movement but change it so that it suits Helen'. Helen also stated: 'It's just so good as I train with the other girls and there's not a difference made which is great'. As Helen continues her work, she aims to organise a four-week workshop, collaborate with local charities, and represent Northern Ireland through her athletic pursuits and motivational speaking. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of resilience, community, and the unwavering spirit to overcome life's challenges. Helen will be speaking at events taking place on Wednesday 30th of July at 2pm and Thursday the 28th of August. These talks will be located in the Oasis Centre in Abbey Street, Coleraine. In a world that often overlooks the power of inclusivity, Helen stands as a symbol of hope, proving that with the right support, anyone can rise above their circumstances and inspire others along the way.
