AN INSPIRATIONAL Clogher boy, who was left paralysed following a road accident four years ago, provided the incentive for a group of friends, family and work colleagues to undertake a mammoth fundraising drive to help a charity which works towards finding a cure for spinal cord injury.
A fantastic total of £14,298 was presented recently from representatives of SRS/Finlay in Ballygawley to The British Neurological Research Trust (BNRT), after the local group fielded four relay teams to complete the Belfast Marathon.
Beverley Steen,
whose nephew James received devastating injuries in an accident involving a car and a quad bike when he was just four and a half years of age, told the Tyrone Times the runners were overwhelmed by the generosity of those who supported their cause.
James' father, Stephen Robinson, owns the Ballygawley-based engineering firm, whose customers and suppliers from across the UK and Ireland, helped to raise around half of the final total.
The remainder of the donations were generated through sponsorship from individuals, and Beverley expressed her sincere gratitude to everyone who gave their support.
She told the Times the marathon runners were spurred on by the bravery of young James.
"We did think about raising money for a charity which was involved in spinal research", said Beverley.
"Stephen had been following Professor Geoffrey Raisman's work into this field, and contacted him for advice as to where best to put the money. Professor Raisman told him about the BNRT which was established in a quest to find a cure for spinal cord injury."
Every year more than 800 people in the UK and Ireland are paralysed following an injury to their spinal cord.
The Spinal Repair Unit at the Institute of Neurology, University College London, was established under the direction of Professor Raisman, and carries out work on a method for repair of spinal cord injury by transplantation of cells called olfactory ensheathing cells from the nasal lining.
Beverley said the local group are already considering their next fundraising venture, and suggested they might even take on the challenge of the Dublin Marathon as some extra training!
She also paid tribute to her nephew, adding: "James is at school now, and just loves it! He is very smart, has loads of friends and is very popular. All his friends come running to meet him in the mornings! He does lots of things with his hands and is very good at art. He is also still able to go on the tractor, which he absolutely loves!"
