Fundraising to safeguard the future of a rehabilitation lifeline
An eight-year-old boy has rallied his family to join him on a 330-mile charity challenge to safeguard a life-changing spinal cord injury rehabilitation programme which has supported him.
Jasper Thornton-Jones was paralysed aged two after a spinal stroke. Key to his rehabilitation therapy since then has been the Neurokinex Charitable Trust, based near Gatwick.
Jasper was the first paediatric client at Neurokinex when he started there in September 2016 on its Step Up Scheme. The initiative has proved life-changing for many patients, and offers a set of six free rehab sessions for adults and children with a new spinal cord injury. The scheme costs the Neurokinex Charitable Trust £420 per person to fulfil and relies on funding for its survival.
Now, he is giving his support to the Neurokinex Step It Up Challenge, created to help safeguard the future of the Step Up Scheme, and will be working alongside loved ones to achieve his goal.
Jasper’s team includes his mum Kate, dad Felix, younger brother Elliot and US-based godmother Victoria Melcher, who together will attempt to cover 330 virtual miles by walking, running and cycling.
Jasper, from Reigate, is aiming to cover at least 1,500 steps each weekday on the specially-adapted Locomotor Trainer treadmill as part his intensive summer programme at Neurokinex.
“Jasper loves working toward a goal and couldn’t wait to get started on the challenge,” says Kate.
“He really enjoys the treadmill work at Neurokinex but attempting 1500 steps five days a week for four weeks will test him and he’ll have to work hard to cover the target distance.
“Jasper really cares about Neurokinex and wants to give back to the charity which helped him benefit from the Step Up Scheme. As his mum, I love knowing that Jasper is getting the best rehabilitation available in the UK at Neurokinex and is at the forefront of breakthrough treatments.
“This will be Jasper’s first intensive summer block of Locomotor Training since he first started at Neurokinex and I’m excited to see the progress he will make in strength, function and flexibility.”
The Step It Up Challenge runs throughout August and aims to raise £20,000 by encouraging people to work as individuals and in teams to travel the equivalent distance between one or more Neurokinex sites:
- 65 miles between Neurokinex Gatwick and Neurokinex Hemel Hempstead
- 130 miles between Neurokinex Bristol and Neurokinex Hemel Hempstead
- 135 miles between Neurokinex Bristol and Neurokinex Gatwick.
Participants can cover the distance however they choose – walking, cycling, swimming and running all count. They can travel in their wheelchair, use a bicycle, tricycle or hand cycle.
Most are combining different methods of travel while Neurokinex clients like Jasper will be topping up their distances during their regular rehab sessions.
To support Jasper’s efforts, visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/neurokinexstepitup
