Lorraine, or Lolly, was left paralysed after an incident in a club in 2004. Shortly after arriving, she bought a drink at the bar and headed to the dance floor when another club-goer fell from the balcony above and landed directly on top of her. Lolly knew immediately that she was completely paralysed. The impact of the person falling on her was damage to her spinal cord at C4-5 vertebrae.
Lolly returned home after ten months of hospital rehabilitation with no movement or feeling from her shoulders down. She is unable to wash, dress or feed herself, and must rely on others to help her with every daily task.
"I strongly believe that when a cure does come along, it won’t just be a simple procedure. I think it will be achieved through a number of different therapies"
Lolly
Since then, Lolly became an Ambassador for Spinal Research. She has supported the charity by giving talks, raising media awareness, and taking on challenging fundraisers. From fashion shows, to skydiving, to FES cycling, Lolly is fearless and dynamic when it comes to research for spinal cord injury. Together, with a group of other women paralysed after spinal cord injury, she is part of the Cure Girls, who are determined to see medical treatments for paralysis and to walk again.
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Community stories
Read more stories of people with a spinal cord injury and the hope they have that, one day, research will help them.
Our Research
Research facilities around the world are developing a range of cutting-edge treatment pathways, some now in clinical trial.