In our lifetime we meet so many people who make a lasting impact. Some that truly plant a seed that blossoms into a passionate and loyal friendship across the decades. Sam and Lou are one such friendship. Meeting when Louise was a young and inexperienced athlete, Sam an older Brazilian player took a shine to her immediately. Without much English to communicate, she recognised Louise’s love of the game and her passion for life; always smiling and laughing. Despite the language barrier they formed a sweet connection while on the wheelchair tennis tour, but it was at a futures tournament in Turkey where their friendship flourished into one of mutual respect and love.

Louise was 18 years old at this point and over the course of this tournament, Sam would change the way she not only saw herself, but how she viewed her disability and what was possible. With a style that screamed expression, vibrancy and some killer fashion choices. Sam was the most unapologetic wheelchair user you could have met. With a background in modelling and beauty, Sam with her luminous lipstick was the perfect catalyst to show Louise that you could wear
whatever you want and express yourself through beauty, fashion and makeup, even with a disability. A revolution unheard of! 

Merely a few weeks later, Louise attended the British Open dinner in an off the shoulder full length light blue dress with her new accessories: confidence and body positivity. A shift had happened between them both, and it sparked two decades of friendship that continues to inspire them today. 

Sam and Louise are each other’s safe spaces. It’s organic and natural to be around each other and their selfless ability to think of others is the bond that has bound them together since the day they met. Their dedication to inclusivity and fighting the fight for people with disabilities has meant
that they have collaborated on projects throughout the years, including London Fashion Week, where an idea from Sam grew into Louise not only being on the runway, but also hosting a fashion panel discussion a few years later. Their close relationship has grown from one of almost role model and mentor back in the day into one of equals. ‘Age is irrelevant, when you know that this person is just right for you’. The fact that Sam was older never played a factor- it was a partnership of mutual respect and shared belief that more can be done for inclusion, meaning that Sam knew exactly who to call when she envisioned her new business model and who would be by her side.  

This collaboration of minds works. Simply put – they just work, and alongside their husbands Mark and Chris, they form a formidable force of strong individuals who collectively have one goal- to fight for inclusion. Through public speaking, events and consultations across multiple industries including sporting events, universities and schools they draw together their wealth of knowledge and experience, to not only educate and raise awareness, but to initiate action.  

‘Inclusion is an action’ as Sam so beautifully said. It defies what can be possible or what is deemed imaginable to allow everyone the opportunity to thrive. 

So, time for action.