Every year 1,000 people in the UK and Ireland are paralysed following an injury to their spinal cord. 

On 7th May 2011 my mum had a horse riding accident, suffering a C5/C6 spinal injury. Left paralysed from the chest down (tetraplegic), she receives 24hr medical care. She is no longer able to lead the active life she once had, essentially trapped in her own body. 

Spinal Research is the UK’s leading charity funding medical research around the world to develop effective treatments for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury. They receive no government funding and rely entirely on the support of the public to raise funds for their research. Because of the efforts of their supporters, they have funded innovative medical research that has achieved a number of ground breaking changes in the field. 

I remain hopeful that one day they will find a cure for spinal injuries and give people like my mum their life and independence back. I’m running the London Marathon on 23rd April 2023 for this reason, and I’ll be thinking of my mum and her strength every step of the way. 

This is my first ever marathon, having only completed my first half marathon in September 2022. I am terrified and excited in equal measure 😬. However, I won’t be alone…….my lovely friend and personal trainer Sam Parks will be running the marathon for the first time this year, also raising money for Spinal Research! I’m not quite sure we’ll have the same finish time though! 

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and please sponsor whatever amount you can.

Rosy  x