The Royal National Orthopaedic hospital (RNOH) at Stanmore helps to rebuild the lives of people who suffer devastating and life changing spinal cord injury. This world class hospital is currently undergoing extensive redevelopment work to improve the facilities available to patients and requires financial assistance to fund the specialist equipment needed for rehabilitation by both children and adults.

Recently the hospital has directly supported the rehabilitation of family members of two TVHA staff, Jon Clowes (regional land manager) and Kim Shanahan (development manager).

In April 2016 Jon's son, Archie (8 years) contracted transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder that caused inflammation of the spinal cord. This impacted his mobility and resulted in him having to learn to walk again. He was referred to RNOH from Great Ormond Street for specialist physiotherapy, where he spent 3 months rehabilitating and continues to be supported in his ongoing recovery as an outpatient by the caring, dedicated and specialist guidance of the team at the spinal cord injury centre.

In June 2016 Kim's partner, Ashley had a major accident at work resulting in a severe spinal cord injury and he received rehabilitation at Stanmore following a two month wait for a bed to become available.

The improvements to the spinal cord injury centre will ensure patients can be treated more quickly with state of the art facilities.

Our aim is to raise awareness of the amazing life changing work undertaken by staff at the spinal unit, and to give thanks to the support and care provided to Kim and Jon’s' families. Money is being raised to help  fund further improvements to the unit to help treat more patients to confidently return to the normality of their life and cope with any adjustments needed to regain their independence.