WheelPower appoint new advisors in spinal injury centres to boost participation
Wheelchair sport charity WheelPower aims to boost participation among disabled people with its newly appointed Physical Activity Advisors. Based at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre in Salisbury and The London Spinal Injuries Centre in Stanmore, it is hoped more people with spinal injuries will be encouraged to be active.
Mark O’Neill (Stanmore) and Ross Morrison (Salisbury) will provide expert advice and support to patients with a recent spinal injury in the pilot programme which is supported by the Stewarts Law Foundation. Ross and Mark will promote the benefits of living a healthy active lifestyle, and provide opportunities for patients to get involved in sport and physical activity.
Former GB Wheelchair Rugby player Ross has a wealth of experience in sport and is a former patient of Salisbury spinal unit himself. He said:
"When you experience a traumatic injury you can find yourself a little unsure on what to do next. But sport for me has really opened my eyes to what I can achieve, and it has played a huge part in my life. I’m hoping to show the patients what is possible, through the wide range of sports and physical activities and everything on offer to stay fit and healthy."
Alongside providing general advice and information on sport and physical activity, the advisor will act as a buddy to patients and support them in attending their rehabilitation sessions.
Stanmore based Mark who used sport to transform his life after a spinal injury is a great role model to current patients. He had a high level spinal injury at age 37 and became tetraplegic and a wheelchair user. Since his injury he has completed the London Marathon twice, and recently qualified as a fitness gym instructor through the instructAbility programme. He said:
"I have always been involved in sport throughout my life. But after injury it helped me meet other people, it got me out and about and it got me physically active again. There is such a wide ride of sports and activities available suitable for all ages from youngers to the elderly."
WheelPower’s Inclusive Sport Advisor Steve Snelling will oversee the project. Steve said:
"We are very excited by the new programme which will provide patients the support to live a healthy active lifestyle. The focus will be on getting more patients active through a wider range of activities in addition to the traditional wheelchair sports. Both Ross and Mark will meet patients on a regular basis so patients know about WheelPower and what we can do support them in getting involved in sport and physical activity."
The Physical Activity Advisor’s start their role in early 2014, the pilot programme has the potential to reach more spinal injury units in hospitals across the UK in the future.
