Getting people out of wheelchairs and back on their feet becomes a marathon effort for Mark Todd
Posted by Kim Holden, 30 Apr, 2010
The Rider, Performance Stallions, Performance Horses
The CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust has committed a team to participate in the New York Marathon later this year, with Olympian Equestrian rider and Patron Mark Todd the first tosign up alongside Founder of the Trust, Catriona Williams. Williams is competing on a hand-cycle and joins a select few to have attempted this in theNew York Marathon.
A team of 20 have stepped up to the challenge of running the world's most famous marathon in support of the Trust's latest initiative to raise funds for a cure for spinal cord injuries.
Mark Todd, who is also making a World Championship bid this year, may be equestrian fit, but is facing a whole new challenge in running his first marathon.
“This is a great opportunity to do something positive to help this cause. The equestrian world is extremely conscious of the spinal cord injuries resulting from the sport. I am thrilled to be able to make a difference“, says Todd.
Longtime supporter of Todd is Bell Tea and Coffee Company who has stepped up to the mark as his first sponsor. Chief Executive Mark Hamilton said “We have had a rewarding relationship with Mark Todd for many years, and we're thrilled to be working with him again on such a good cause. We'll be supporting him all the way to New York.”
While a personal physical and mental challenge for all Team members, it's also a personal desire to makea difference to people with paralysis and those that will suffer in the future. All have been touched by someone who has had their life changed in an instant,affecting all those around them through a devastating spinal cord injury. In NewZealand alone, we have one spinal cord injury occurring every 5 days.
Formerly one of New Zealand's leading international equestrian riders, Catriona was confined to a wheelchair following a riding accident in 2002.
There is no Government funding in NewZealand for spinal cord injury research.
The CatWalk Trust's goal is to push the boundaries and pace of scientific research to enable spinal cordinjury victims to walk again. “Our aim is to have all paralysis sufferers to walk, run and dance again”, says Williams.
Research in this area hasalready been successful in assisting some people to walk again and to reduce the risk of paralysis after injury through specific treatments.
“These are exciting times,as I always say every day in the chair is one step closer to being without the chair!”, says Williams.
As the Trust's family of Patrons indicates (Richie McCaw, Mark Todd, Sarah Walker, Sir Brian Lohore, Zara Phillips, LanceO'Sullivan, Dion Nash, Aaron Slight), those most likely to be struck with paralysis are those that live on the edge and push boundaries in their chosen sport every day.
40% of spinal cord injuries in New Zealand aredue to a sporting accident. The leap from being at the peak of physical activity to one second later being paralysed is something they are familiar with. With such a significant sporting involvement, the New York Marathon as afundraising challenge for the Trust “made a lot of sense”, said Williams.
Bell Tea & Coffee Company Chairman, Tony Carter has also pledged his support for the cause by signing up as a Team Member for 2010 to raise funds through crossing the finishline, “as a company we support The CatWalk Trust, but personally I embrace this opportunity to realise a long held dream while supporting this essential cause”, said Carter.
Contact the seller
Contact: Kim Holden
Website: www.catwalk.org.nz
Address: 409 Queen Street, PO Box 555, Masterton
Phone: 6 377 5430
The CatWalk Trust is a non-government funded non-profit organisation with the principal aim of raising funds to support the search for a cure for Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) paralysis. Whilst there are a number of organisations providing valuable rehabilitative support to those with SCI, the CatWalk Trust aims to challenge the current boundaries of research, enabling SCI victims to walk again. Ten years ago if you... More Info
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