Hi, I’m Chris Snelling – a self-confessed fitness enthusiast and lifelong rugby nause. For 15 years, rugby wasn’t just a sport – it was my week. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays… repeat.

Then in 2018, during pre-season, I felt a little twinge in my back. No big deal, right? Backs get sore, especially when you spend your weekends getting run over. I brushed it off, had a bit of physio, and jetted off to Las Vegas with my (then) girlfriend, now amazing wife, and two mates (also now married).

But Vegas had other plans. A slip on a sun lounger (yes, really) turned into an explosion of pain that even the Nevada heat couldn’t melt away. The local medical centre told me to apply heat and rest - "sit in the hot tub" they said.....in 40 degree heat....good one!

By the afternoon, something felt very wrong. I couldn’t pee, had pins and needles down my legs, and everything below the belt went worryingly numb. An MRI later, I was told I had a massive L4/L5 disc herniation crushing my spinal cord. The diagnosis: Cauda Equina Syndrome, a rare and serious spinal injury. Within hours I was in emergency surgery, and in that moment, my rugby career ended. Unfortunately, what happens in Vegas, doesn't always stay in Vegas.

Recovery was… interesting. Learning to walk properly again, mastering intermittent catheterisation, and avoiding curries spicier than a Madras became my new normal. But despite the odds (and a few toilet-related mishaps along the way), I’ve been incredibly lucky.

Doctors told me running again was a distant dream, but I’m stubborn, and maybe a bit stupid. So here I am, a few years later, training for the London Marathon 2026.

I still live with some lasting effects; a bit of drop foot, numbness, and the kind of bowel control that keeps life interesting, but I know how fortunate I am. Many others with spinal injuries don’t get the same recovery or support.

That’s why I’m running for the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA), to help those who face far tougher battles than mine, and to make sure they have access to the rehab, advice and support that can truly change lives.

So, if you can spare a few quid (or just fancy cheering on a slightly wobbly ex-rugby lad attempting 26.2 miles), please donate to this amazing cause.

Thank you – from me, my spine, and more importantly, the others your donation will support 🦵💙