Steven Smith got some bad news following a burglary that turned violent at his property. He was told by doctors that he would never walk again. That may seem sad but the fact has not daunted Steven who has committed himself to participate in the London Marathon on the 23rd April 2017. Steven will take part to raise money for the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation (nsif) which is an organisation dedicated to developing a cure for spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis.
Surprising his doctors
Steven was at his holiday home in the South of France when the attack took place 5 years ago. Armed men broke into his house surprising him. In order to escape he jumped from his first-floor window but landed in a ravine breaking his spine in the process. He has consistently surprised his doctors with his recovery following his spinal injury and with the help of a walking stick is able to walk.
An incredibly difficult challenge
Whilst that is an amazing recovery Steven still has to face a whole host of complications caused by his injury. His goal is to finish the marathon in under 14 hours which is nothing short of incredible given the fact that he faces considerable difficulty and pain whilst moving. Steven is seeking to raise £250,000 for nsif which will use all the money raised to finance ground breaking research to source a cure for spinal cord injury.
Steven said “After my injury in 2011 my legs often feel extremely heavy – they feel like they are made of lead. I won’t be training too much, as I don’t want to aggravate the injury. I think I’ve only got one marathon in me and I don’t want to run out of steam too early!”
Mike Milner, CEO of nsif commented, “The London Marathon is an enormous challenge for anyone taking part – but to undertake a challenge of this scale when every step is a struggle will really push Steven to his limits. Steven has shown incredible mental and physical strength in his attempt to recover from his injury. Many people don’t realise the extent of the complications that a spinal cord injury can cause, it is a life-long battle for good health due to the hidden effects of the injury. We believe in a future where there will be a cure for spinal injury and we are enormously grateful to Steven taking on this epic challenge”.
Click here to make a donation to Steven Smith’s fund raising effort
