Devon policeman takes on marathon wheelchair challenge for research
Sgt. Andy Elliott was a student at Exeter University in 1996 when his friend and football teammate suffered a serious spinal cord injury. Although able-bodied, he’s now taking on the challenge of the London Marathon in a wheelchair to help raise funds for Spinal Research.
Andy and his friend Andrew Russell were close friends and members of the same football club at Exeter University in the mid-90s. Unfortunately, life changed dramatically for Andrew when he suffered a serious spinal cord injury in a diving accident, leaving him wheelchair-bound.
Alongside his fellow students and club members, Andy supported his friend through his days in hospital and initial rehabilitation. He also played a pivotal role in helping Andrew return to studying at the University by working for a year as his study support.
Eventually Andrew moved to London, with Andy staying in Devon to start his career with the Devon and Cornwall police. Despite the distance involved, the two ex-teammates have remained firm friends over the years.
From dealing with the general public on a day-to-day basis, through his previous role in mental health active therapy and now working to train new police graduates, Andy has learned to see life from many different perspectives.
He is also acutely aware of how life can change in a split second through accident or injury as he explains:
“My story is one of lucky escapes, regular hospital trips following accidents that could have been worse. I hope I will never know exactly what it is like to be faced by the mental and physical challenge of serious injury, but I wanted to get a small insight. It was this thought that sparked the idea of taking on a self-propelled wheelchair challenge.”
After securing a wheelchair from Exeter Disability Centre , Andy is now training to take on the challenge of the London Marathon 2024.
“I’ve just completed my first 5K in the chair, and already found out how much work is involved. My aim is to keep training throughout the autumn and winter, to get ready for the 26.2 miles of the London Marathon in April.”
Donate >Funding life changing research
Andy is raising funds for Spinal Research, the U.K.’s leading medical charity funding research into spinal cord injury. After working in the City of London, his friend Andrew now works for the charity and explains why raising funds is so vital at this time:
“Until recently it was felt that any regeneration and repair of the spinal cord was not possible. However over the last 40 years research has delivered major scientific advances, creating the possibility of delivering meaningful therapies and ultimately finding a cure.
With life changing treatments now in clinical trials, funding is vital to take this promising research forward to help the 60,000 people in the UK living with paralysis”, he added.
You can following support Andy’s mammoth push through his justgiving page here:https://www.justgiving.com/page/andys-spinalresearch-wheelchairmarathonf1691827932953
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