Chris & Zoe Take on the Paris Marathon 2026 for The Rooprai Spinal Trust

On 12 April 2026, Chris and Zoe will stand on the start line of the Paris Marathon — their first ever marathon.

Neither of them are seasoned endurance athletes. Chris feels more decrepit by the day. Zoe dreams of weekends that don’t revolve around exhausting training runs. The miles are long. The weather isn’t always kind. The motivation sometimes wobbles.

But they will get to that finish line.

Because this run isn’t just about ticking off 26.2 miles.

It’s about standing in solidarity with people who face challenges far greater than sore legs and tired lungs.

The Rooprai Spinal Trust-

Chris and Zoe are proud to be running as part of Team RST, representing The Rooprai Spinal Trust.

RST was inspired by Marrianne Rooprai, who was paralysed from the shoulders down following a car accident in 2004. From devastating beginnings, something powerful was created — a charity dedicated to helping others rebuild their lives after spinal cord injury.

Since 2022, RST has worked in partnership with The Rehab Physio to fund specialist neuro rehabilitation placements. Together, they provide:

Funded rehabilitation programmes

Ongoing physiotherapy sessions

Gym memberships to support long-term recovery

This support doesn’t just change weeks or months. It changes futures.

What Funded Neuro Rehabilitation Really Means:

After a spinal cord injury, rehabilitation is not optional — it is essential. Without continued specialist neuro physiotherapy, patients can face:

Severe muscle stiffness (spasticity)

Chronic pain

Weight gain

Muscle wastage

Deteriorating bone density

Secondary complications can be life-threatening, including:

Respiratory illnesses

Pressure sores

Urinary tract infections

But with the right rehabilitation, the story can be very different.

Physically active spinal cord injury patients dramatically reduce these risks. They build strength. They protect their long-term health. They regain function.

And just as importantly — they regain hope.

Rehabilitation offers structure, measurable progress, and meaningful goals. It restores confidence. It combats isolation. It reminds someone that they are still capable, still strong, still moving forward.

That is what your donation supports.

Your Donation Matters

Long-term rehabilitation is expensive. For many individuals and families already facing enormous life changes, the financial burden is overwhelming.

Without funding, access to specialist neuro rehab simply isn’t possible.

By donating, you are:

Funding access to life-changing rehabilitation

Preventing serious long-term health complications

Supporting physical independence

Investing in someone’s mental wellbeing and confidence

Giving someone the chance to rebuild their life

Every pound helps remove a barrier.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and secure. Your money goes directly to the charity, making it the most efficient way to support this cause.

Why Chris & Zoe Will Keep Going:

At mile 20, when everything hurts.

When the finish feels impossibly far away.

When their legs are begging them to stop.

They will remember the individuals supported by RST.

They will remember that while they chose this challenge, many people never chose theirs.

They know how privileged they are to be able to run.

So they will drag themselves around that course if they have to.

Not just for the medal.

But for the people whose courage redefines resilience.

If you can, please donate.

Help turn 26.2 miles of effort into years of opportunity for someone rebuilding their life after spinal cord injury.

Together, we can make every mile matter.