Louise’s Story: Reaching new heights climbing the O2 Arena
24 June 2024
Meet Louise:
– Works as a Commercial Business Partner for Solent NHS Trust
– Joined our Board of Trustees in 2023
– Recently climbed the O2 Arena to raise money for Back Up
At just 19 years old and 22 weeks pregnant, Louise had a bleed in her spinal cord that left her paralysed from the waist down. The impact of her injury was life-changing. After a short stay in rehab, she went home and her daughter was born – and she realised that she needed support from others in a similar situation so she could get back to living life to the full.
“Being a new mum and adapting to life using a wheelchair was extremely challenging. I felt quite isolated from the world until two things happened – I joined a mother and baby group and made life long friends, and I found Back Up!”
After registering for support with Back Up, Louise joined one of our Multi Activity Courses in the Lake District. At Back Up, our courses aim to increase confidence and independence in a supportive environment. They’re led by people who have a spinal cord injury themselves – allowing participants to learn from others who have who have been there, and can understand the issues and challenges they may be facing.
“Since then I have challenged myself with further education, going out and socialising, and landing myself a pretty good career!”
As a qualified procurement and commercial management specialist, Louise has worked in the NHS for the last seven years. She has a passion for enhancing and improving spinal cord injury care and support, and in 22/23 spent 12 months as a Transformation Delivery Manager in the Southeast of England. This means she led on making improvements to care and rehabilitation pathways on behalf on NHS England.
Now, Louise is thrilled to be a Trustee for Back Up and is excited to support and drive the charity forward in its development and growth. She has also recently taken on a challenge to support Back Up, to help make sure that others in a similar situation can have the same support she had.
Alongside her husband, daughter and the friends she made through the baby group all those years ago, Louise raised funds for Back Up by climbing the O2 Arena. Together they raised an amazing £3,000, including gift aid.
“This was a wonderful challenge and the O2 team were amazing on the day! The climb was a great way to challenge the perception of disability, and seeing London from the viewpoint at the top was an added bonus! After spending more than half of my life using a wheelchair, I still like to prove that if you set your mind to it, life and independence is still for the taking!”
If you’d like to take on your own challenge for Back Up, then check out our DIY fundraising page to get some tips and ideas. Or get in touch with our fundraising team by emailing Emily or calling her on 020 8875 6774. Whatever challenge you decide to take on will help us to continue transforming the lives of everyone affected by spinal cord injury – your fundraising can help make a difference!
