On Saturday June 22nd, 2019 I had a life-changing spinal cord injury when I was involved in a road traffic accident, whilst out cycling on a triathlon training ride. I fractured my neck and compressed my spinal cord and was left paralysed from the chest down. (The picture below shows how I was after leaving intensive care.)

One year on – Saturday June 20, 2020 – I am attempting a virtual ‘sprint triathlon’.  Firstly, to show how far I’ve come since my accident, and secondly to raise vital funds to support the Neurokinex Charitable Trust service that supported me.

After my accident I had life-saving neurosurgery at St Mary’s Hospital before recovering firstly at the Whittington Hospital and then at the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre, at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.  By the time I was discharged in November 2019, I had made huge progress but I still needed lots of assistance with everyday tasks.  I wanted to regain more strength and function to restore my independence.

I found the help I needed at Neurokinex – a specialist spinal cord injury rehabilitation facility. As a newly-injured client discharged from an NHS hospital, I was eligible to access six free sessions on its Newly Injured Scheme. Neurokinex helped me set goals and was key to adjusting to life back at home. Its incredible range of equipment and cutting-edge approach, bring together the very latest thinking in spinal rehabilitation.  I have come such a long way with their help.

Due to Covid-19, its Newly Injured Scheme is under threat.  Costing £420 per person, Neurokinex won’t be able to fund this after lockdown, so it has launched a Step Up Appeal to raise £25,000 to secure these services for newly injured people.  I’m seeking sponsorship of my virtual triathlon to help this charity that helped me.

My challenge comprises eight minutes of continuous upper body work with dumbbells (to replicate the 400-metre swim), followed by a 10km time trial on my indoor spin bike and finishing with a 2.5km walk. This will be hardest bit, as it will be over twice the distance I’ve walked since my injury… I used to be able to run this distance in 12 minutes but reckon it will take me 45 minutes to walk it.

This won’t be easy for me but if you can sponsor my challenge it will be worthwhile as I can give back to the charity that has given me so much.

Thank you!