I'm paralysed from the chest down, but using electrical stimulation and a slightly adapted machine, I can row using all four limbs on a Concept 2, a familiar piece of gym equipment.
I will be rowing 100km -
equivalent to rowing across the Channel from England to France and back - and back again! I'm raising money for the Back-Up Trust, who help people with spinal cord injury by running courses in skiing, drama and scuba diving to name but a few. On a course last year, I watched someone who could only move his head take out a dinghy and sail alone across a huge lake: it was incredible. Back-Up also run a mentoring programme for those who are newly injured. To find out more about them, visit http://www.backuptrust.org.uk
The rowing is part of a medical study at Brunel University in London, researching the impact of intense exercise on people with spinal cord injury. I train three times a week, and row around 4,000 metres a session, so reaching the full 100km will take some time! I'll keep my distance updated here.
17th December. Made it! Over 140km rowed (so four times across the Channel). Fitter and faster and hopefully some useful evidence for the medical study.
To see what else I'm up to, visit www.liveyourpotential.net
