I am running the London 2021 marathon to raise money for Spinal research! As many of you may already know back on 23rd April 2016 I fell off my horse Franco in a freak accident which resulted in me fracturing my L1 Vertebrae! 

The story: 

I had been riding since I was about 6 years old competing since I was about 13 years old! I had never injured myself before, even though it’s one of the most dangerous sports out there! On 23rd April 2016 I was having my usual Saturday jumping lesson when my horse tripped over a pole after the fence. This resulted in me falling off and landing sitting down. Franco wasn’t little either standing at 16.3hh. I didn’t land softly put it that way! I remember laying there on the floor winded at first, when I was able to breath I tried to get up off the floor but I couldn’t. I could feel my legs but couldn’t move. That was when my instructor called an ambulance. Once I got to hospital the doctors thought I had just bruised my back and so after being rolled on each side and them feeling my back they asked me to get up and see if I could walk. Somehow I managed to be helped up and step from one bed to the next. It was only a few hours later when I was still in pain and couldn’t hold my body upright that they sent me for an X-ray. I remember the doctor coming back and saying we are so sorry but you’ve broken your back! I was in shock to say the least!  After trusting the doctors and walking with a broken back I could have easily caused more damage to my back! I was lucky. After spending a few weeks in hospital and wearing a body brace for 4 months I got the all clear! My friends and family were amazing in this time keeping a smile on my face whilst I recovered! 

I would like to run the 2021 marathon to raise money to help people who have had similar injuries to me but have not been as lucky as myself and are now paralysed and can no longer walk as that could have easily been me! I chose to support Spinal Research as it’s the UK’s leading charity funding medical research around the world to develop effective treatments for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury. Every year 1,000 people in the UK and Ireland are paralysed following an injury to their spinal cord. Spinal Research receives no government funding and rely’s entirely on the support of the public to raise funds for their research to help people with spinal injuries!