Paralympians of the future are still emerging from Buckinghamshire’s spinal injuries centre.
The National Spinal Injuries Centre (NSIC) at Stoke Mandeville Hospital participated in the annual Inter Spinal Unit Games (ISUG) last week, run by Wheelpower
For a number of participants these games have sparked a passion for competitive paralympic sport, with some going on to represent Team GB.
Former NSIC patient Jonny Young, originally from Belfast and now residing in Nottingham, is hoping to follow in their footsteps and take part in Rio next year in the paracanoe event.
“I was an inpatient at the NSIC when I took part in the ISUG. I was active in sports before my injury, and had already begun doing sports therapy but ISUG showed me how important sports would be for me in life after hospital and opened my eyes to the range of sports and clubs available.
“The day I was discharged from the centre I applied for the GB paralympic ‘Road to Rio’ programme and, within two months, I was training for the paracanoe”
Jonny had a spinal cord injury that meant he could manage some short distances on crutches but was predominantly in a wheelchair.
