Together We Thrive
One of my great loves in life is sports, and with it being Olympics time, it is front of mind for many people as years and years of hard work come to their culmination on the world stage. From swimming golds to boxing letdowns, and from cycling triumphs to accidents, the Olympics offers no shortage of joy and heartache. The Games possess a unique spirituality, regardless of any one athlete’s faith background, rooted in ancient traditions and celebrated in pushing the body ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’ in the pursuit of glory.
One story that has truly stood out for me this Olympics, epitomising spirit, dedication, and drive, is Saya Sakakibara winning gold in BMX racing. This victory was a celebration eight years in the making, marked by significant adversity and challenges throughout her journey in the sport.
Both Saya and her brother suffered serious injuries throughout their racing careers, with Saya vowing to continue racing for her brother even after her own serious crash at the Tokyo Olympics. Driven by an indomitable spirit and determination to overcome challenges, she raced on to represent not only herself but also her brother Kai, who had suffered a traumatic brain injury in his own accident.
Saya races for two, and watching her cross the finish line in her gold medal race, one cannot help but be moved by the emotion and spirit with which she celebrated that win. It was a profoundly meaningful moment for both her and Kai, especially with him in the crowd cheering her on. Their journey, marked by physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual challenges, reached a triumphant culmination.
We can draw strength from stories like Saya’s as we face challenges in our personal and professional lives. We recognise that at present, those working in healthcare, particularly spiritual health, are facing unprecedented challenges, both financially and in terms of staffing. Health services across the country are grappling with budget cuts as they seek to recover from COVID-related expenditures. Spiritual Health Association recognises these challenges and stands with each of you as you continue to strive for excellence in spiritual care in health.
May we work together to overcome these challenges and collectively enhance our sector, making it stronger, safer, and of higher quality.
Craig Exon, Interim CEO
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