Words by Smiley Team
A sports charity which helps people paralysed due to spinal-cord injuries lead a more active life, is seeking participants for a fundraising challenge.
Regain work with people who became tetraplegic - paralysed in both their upper and lower body - as a result of sports or leisure accidents to help them lead independent lives by providing both specialist equipment and emotional support.
They are now seeking fundraisers to challenge themselves to complete a set distance in either running, cycling, swimming or walking starting on 23 June and finishing by 23 July - the start date for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Each discipline has a bronze, silver or gold distance to complete, and participants will be rewarded with a medal once they finish their challenge.
The campaign is supported by Mark Foster, a five-time Olympian, world, European and Commonwealth Champion swimmer and Regain patron. Mark said: “There’s never been a better time to shake off those lockdown cobwebs, so please join me in helping to raise money to support sports tetraplegics.
“I have been a patron of the charity for many years and have seen first hand how Regain provides essential support to people with spinal-cord injuries.”
Team GB wheelchair rugby player Kylie Grimes, who became tetraplegic after an accident in 2006, is also supporting the event. She added: “Playing wheelchair rugby really helped my rehabilitation and to get me strong, healthy and fit.
“Regain helped me to see that my life was still important and that I could live life to the full. Just because an accident has changed your life doesn’t mean you don’t have a life to live.
“By signing up for the challenge not only are you raising money for a great cause, you’re kickstarting your own fitness too. Just get involved and see how far you can take your body.”
The charity’s CEO Paul Lawrence added: “We rely upon the help of our community and champion supporters so please get active and sign up for a sponsored challenge with friends, family, work colleagues or sports clubs.
“Help us Go The Distance for sports tetraplegics, supporting them to lead independent and fulfilling lives.”
For more information visit the Regain website or follow the charity on Twitter.
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