In October, Des and I will be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon to raise money for Horatio’s Garden, a charity that has become incredibly meaningful to me following my own experience with a spinal cord injury.

In December 2024, while in South Africa with my family, I fell from a first-floor balcony, breaking my neck with a shattered vertebra and damaging my spinal cord. I was initially paralysed and underwent emergency surgery, followed by an intensive period of rehabilitation, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

I know how incredibly lucky I am to have made the recovery I have. I will always be enormously grateful to the amazing medical team and surgeon who cared for me in South Africa, the physios and therapists who worked tirelessly with me, my family, friends and colleagues at work for their endless support.

I have to give a particularly special mention to my Dad, who was my absolute rock and who I truly don’t think I could have done it without. He would arrive at the Intensive Care Unit before 7am every day to be there as soon as visitors were allowed and stay until he knew I was asleep at night. He came to every physio and occupational therapy session, celebrated every bit of progress and continues to be one of my biggest supporters today. I feel incredibly lucky to have him as my dad.

My boyfriend, Des, has also been incredible and by my side throughout it all, so it feels very special that he will be running beside/far ahead of me for the 21.1km too, taking on the Royal Parks Half and raising money for Horatio’s Garden together.

Horatio’s Garden creates beautiful, accessible gardens at NHS spinal injury centres, giving patients and their loved ones peaceful spaces away from the clinical hospital environment. I was very fortunate to recover in Cape Town surrounded by greenery and beautiful outdoor spaces, and I know firsthand how much being outside helped my mental wellbeing and motivation during rehabilitation. It made me realise just how important your surroundings can be when so much of your life is centred around hospitals and recovery.

Most of all, I’m incredibly aware of how lucky I am to be able to take on a half marathon at all. In the early days after my accident, my family and I were told that the majority of people with an injury like mine never walk again. The fact that I am now not only walking, but able to run, is something I will never take for granted.

I want to use that luck – and the fact that I can run again – to do something positive for others affected by spinal cord injuries. That is what makes running for Horatio’s Garden so special to Des and I.

We would be so grateful for any support and donations, no matter how big or small. Every donation will help Horatio’s Garden continue creating these incredible spaces for spinal injury patients and their loved ones.

Thank you so much for supporting us. ❤️

Zara & Des x