Dougy Johnstone
Jonny Mitchell Appeal
Fundraising for Spinal Injuries Scotland
Story
Brian Thomson, SIS member and paraplegic, not averse to anything challenging is planning to spend his 40th birthday on the top of Berwick Law, which is a lump of volcanic rock overshadowing North Berwick. At a height of 187 m or 613 ft, this might not seem a great feat but it is how he plans to get there. Brian plans to bum his way, yes bum his way to the top of Berwick Law. He wants to celebrate his birthday by watching the sunrise eating a bacon roll and sipping Buck's Fizz from Berwick Law on the 19th July 2007.
This endeavour is to raise money for the Jonny Mitchell Appeal.
Jonny Mitchell Appeal
Patrons: Frank Hadden, John Petrie, Gregor Townsend, Mike Blair
Jonny Mitchell (25), who was for three seasons the North Berwick Rugby Club Captain, suffered a serious neck injury in the first scrum of the Clubs league game against Hawick Linden on Saturday 10th September 2005. It has left him paralysed from the neck down.
This was a freak accident that occured when the scrums came together, it did not happen as a result of the scrum collapsing. It should be said that Jonny is an experienced hooker, who has played the position since high school.
Jonny spent 13 months rehabilitating in the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit of the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow and he has now recovered limited movement in his right arm and a little less in his left arm. He is now able to move his wheel chair and that is a major step forward.
In the Autumn of 2006, Jonny was discharged from the Southern General and he has moved into a suitably adapted house in Gullane and he and his family have settled well into their new home.
Jonny has been the subject of press, radio and TV interviews which have shown him to have a remarkable strength of character and it is hoped that this spirit will help him continue his improvement over the months and years ahead. He is also proving to be extremely courageous and philosophical about his situation. That said, Jonny and his wife Joanne and their two young children (aged 7 and 3) face a difficult time ahead and a much different future than could ever have been imagined.
The response of the rugby community and the wider public has been outstanding with donations being recieved from clubs and players all over Scotland, both amateur and professional instigating collections and donations as well as offering to organise fundraising events on Jonny's behalf. Funds are being donated to the Jonny Mitchell Trust which has been set up to assist with Jonny's long term needs.
This endeavour is to raise money for the Jonny Mitchell Appeal.
Jonny Mitchell Appeal
Patrons: Frank Hadden, John Petrie, Gregor Townsend, Mike Blair
Jonny Mitchell (25), who was for three seasons the North Berwick Rugby Club Captain, suffered a serious neck injury in the first scrum of the Clubs league game against Hawick Linden on Saturday 10th September 2005. It has left him paralysed from the neck down.
This was a freak accident that occured when the scrums came together, it did not happen as a result of the scrum collapsing. It should be said that Jonny is an experienced hooker, who has played the position since high school.
Jonny spent 13 months rehabilitating in the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit of the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow and he has now recovered limited movement in his right arm and a little less in his left arm. He is now able to move his wheel chair and that is a major step forward.
In the Autumn of 2006, Jonny was discharged from the Southern General and he has moved into a suitably adapted house in Gullane and he and his family have settled well into their new home.
Jonny has been the subject of press, radio and TV interviews which have shown him to have a remarkable strength of character and it is hoped that this spirit will help him continue his improvement over the months and years ahead. He is also proving to be extremely courageous and philosophical about his situation. That said, Jonny and his wife Joanne and their two young children (aged 7 and 3) face a difficult time ahead and a much different future than could ever have been imagined.
The response of the rugby community and the wider public has been outstanding with donations being recieved from clubs and players all over Scotland, both amateur and professional instigating collections and donations as well as offering to organise fundraising events on Jonny's behalf. Funds are being donated to the Jonny Mitchell Trust which has been set up to assist with Jonny's long term needs.