Chicago Marathon 2023 for Trust PA

Hi All

Every once in a while I take the opportunity to use events to raise money for Trust PA.

The Charity Trust PA was set up in memory of Paul-André Blundell (known to all his friends as P-A). P-A was a talented rugby centre, playing for Keynsham RFC until his tragic accident in September 2001 when he sustained a spinal cord injury during a tackle that left him almost instantly paralysed from the chin down and only able to breathe using a ventilator. Being a focussed individual, P-A was making excellent progress in the spinal rehabilitation unit and even making it into a wheelchair. Tragically, he passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in January 2002, aged just 26yrs, from a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung).

P-A's parents, Rob and Gerri set up Trust PA in his memory. Any funds raised contribute directly to research in to improving the lives of the paralysed and work to identify treatments to eventually improve or restore mobility.

The terrible fact is that spinal cord injury can happen to anyone very easily, when involved in normal everyday activities. These include such things as working, driving, motor/cycling and recreation when competing/enjoying sports like rugby, horse riding or swimming. Even simple trips and falls which happen often and very simply, can result in spinal injury. Sadly every day in the UK another FOUR men, women or children are involved in accidents which result in a paralysing spinal cord injury - that is 28 a week, and over 100 a month with an average age of just 19 years - paralysed for life.

I appreciate many of you will have contributed in the past and am grateful for anything you can spare.