Essential TV viewing has returned to our screens this January with Channel 4’s latest season of SAS: Who Dares Wins, where 25 recruits are pushed to their limits in a gruelling recreation of the SAS selection process.
But this year is extra special. We are completely glued to our screens as we watch former GB Rower, Olympian, cancer survivor and complete legend – Carla Devlin – take on the ultimate test of physical and psychological resilience.
Carla (pictured top left), a former employee and friend of Crewroom, signed up for the SAS show while having chemo because she said, “it couldn't be worse”.
In 2018, just after starting a new job, Carla – mum of four – found a lump in her breast and was diagnosed with triple negative invasive breast cancer. In the December, she started 16 sessions of chemo and it was while having treatment that Carla watched the last series of SAS: Who Dares Wins.
In an interview with Channel 4, Carla said: “A particular scene jumped out at me, where one of the female recruits dived under the ice cold water and all I could think was ‘ if I can get through this treatment and wearing the ice cap through chemotherapy (to help keep my hair), I could do that’. I set myself a goal that night to become an SAS: Who Dares Wins recruit, and I’d chip away week by week, treatment by treatment, training when able, in order to reach that goal. Turns out that was the best decision ever, it aided my recovery no end and has given me one of the best experiences of my life."
Carla went on to tell Channel 4: “ Who Dares Wins was easily one of the most incredible experiences of my life, a chance to be Carla, not Carla the mum, not Carla the sister and carer, not Carla the Business Development Manager, not Carla the rower, just Carla - whole heartedly, it was a chance to meet new people, challenge myself physically and mentally with no distractions. I feel like I’ve tapped into a side of me which I’ve never seen before. I overcame my fear of open water, my fear of jumping into water. I entered SAS: Who Dares Wins to drive my recovery from cancer treatment. SAS: Who Dares Wins managed to not only do this, but it surpassed all of my expectations, I’ve made new friends for life and I will always relish the once in a lifetime opportunity it gave me.”
At Crewroom, we’ve had the honour and pleasure of working with Carla, and so we know what a truly exceptional human being she is. And now, we are so chuffed that the rest of the UK will get to see Carla doing what she does best – facing fear head on, conquering extreme challenges, surpassing all expectations and inspiring all of those around her. Carla to win!
SAS: Who Dares Wins airs Sundays on Channel 4 at 9pm
