Oxford woman takes on epic 200-mile solo walk for spinal cord injury community
Jo Godfrey from Oxford is about to embark on an epic 200-mile solo walk to raise funds for a spinal cord injury community close to her heart.
In an extraordinary display of friendship, solidarity and paying it forward, Jo will walk from Bristol to Hemel Hempstead and on to Gatwick, linking up the three Neurokinex spinal cord injury rehabilitation centres.
Her aim is to raise awareness and £5,000 for this charity that she helped set up 12 years ago with its founder Harvey Sihota following his lifechanging spinal cord injury.
Friends and colleagues, Harvey and Jo worked alongside each other at Dresdner Kleinwort, now Commerzbank, 18 years ago.
When Harvey sustained his spinal cord injury in an accident while travelling through Farringdon Station in 2009, Jo kept in touch as he underwent initial hospital treatment and rehabilitation.
During that time, Harvey avidly researched the groundbreaking community rehab techniques being developed by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and their NeuroRecovery Network (NRN).
Knowing there was nothing like this in the UK for him and others living with a spinal cord injury, Harvey decided to open a centre in the UK to provide highly effective activity-based rehabilitation in a community setting.
Harvey asked for Jo’s help to get the project off the ground.
It was far from easy and when funding they’d lined up fell through at the 11th hour, both made the brave decision to finance it themselves, such was their belief in this ambitious project.
As Jo says, it was a “go hard or go home” decision and they nearly had to go home.
Neurokinex was born
The first Neurokinex site opened in Watford in April 2013 and relocated to Hemel Hempstead in 2018.
Quickly established as a centre of excellence, Neurokinex became an affiliate of the NRN and remains the only rehab facility outside the US to offer its most effective protocols.
Its Bristol site opened in 2016 followed by Gatwick in 2018.
As well as offering activity-based rehabilitation programmes for adults and children living with paralysis, Neurokinex engages in national and international research programmes to test cutting-edge technology that redefines the possibilities for rehabilitation.
More than a decade later, since offering to help for ‘a few months’, Jo remains dedicated in her role as director of Neurokinex.
“I feel really blessed to work with the team and to witness the outcomes they achieve for clients, often defying diagnoses and achieving recovery gains beyond anyone’s expectation,” says Jo.
“I’m reminded every day of the lifechanging impact of their work which makes all the effort in those early days worthwhile.”
Safeguarding scheme for newly injured people
Neurokinex extends a helping hand to newly injured people by offering them six hours of free sessions on its Step Up Scheme.
Not only does this provide a kick start in activity-based rehab, it also brings people into a supportive and vibrant community that helps dispel the fear and isolation that can occur when leaving the routine of a spinal cord injury unit.
“The Step Up Scheme is for everyone who needs it,” says Jo. “It’s not means tested or discriminatory in any way. Anyone with a new spinal cord injury can be referred by their NHS doctor, spinal unit or spinal injury charity to benefit.
Jo Godfrey
“The Step Up Scheme supports people who are at the start of their rehab journey and at one of the most vulnerable points in their life. It gives insight into activity-based rehab and provides a thriving and caring community for clients and their families.”
Safeguarding services
Each Step Up Scheme place costs Neurokinex £500: as a charity, it must fundraise each year to safeguard the scheme and its annual Step Up Challenge provides the platform to do this.
Those clients who have recently benefitted from the Step Up Scheme lead the charge each year to be sponsored to complete the challenge. Supporting them are the Neurokinex trainers who “step up” to help them achieve their activity and fundraising goal.
Above and beyond
Jo always plays her part in the Step Up Challenge but this year is going above and beyond by setting herself the enormous task of walking 200 miles solo.
Setting out from Bristol on Thursday September 3rd, she will aim to get to Gatwick by Friday September 11th.
As she covers the distance on the road, Neurokinex clients and trainers will work towards her total distance in their sessions by tackling 3km, 5km and 10km treadmill, hand cycle, stepping or wheeling challenges.
“Leading by example is important to me – you must put your money where your mouth is. We have an expectation for all our staff to step up for their clients and I will step up for them,” she says.
“We know that clients feel great support from family, friends and colleagues during their rehab – a feeling that even when people aren’t physically with you, they’re thinking of you and willing you forwards.
“My walk will embody that, knowing that clients and trainers are with me in spirit as they cover their distance as I cover mine.”
Huge Challenge
Jo’s 8-day walk between the three centres will be a huge personal challenge.
No stranger to setting tough goals – having run marathons, completed triathlons and scaled Mount Kilimanjaro – Jo thinks her Step Up Challenge will be the hardest of all.
“I’m nervous and think this will be the hardest thing I’ve done. I’ll be on my own, I’ll be going day after day after day and having to get back on the road each morning on tired legs.
“I have no doubt this will be difficult and uncomfortable but, unlike our clients, I know this discomfort has an end point. I know our clients don’t have that end point, so it does feel bittersweet.”
Jo is aiming to raise £5,000 of the £25,000 total needed this year to safeguard 50 Step Up Scheme places for people next year. She is already looking forward to the cake promised by the Gatwick team when she finishes her epic distance!
“Thirteen years ago, Jo helped me get Neurokinex off the ground and this walk shows she’s still all in,” says Harvey Sihota, CEO and founder of Neurokinex.
“Walking 200 miles alone, day after day, is a huge thing to take on – but that’s Jo.
“What matters most to me is what it’s for. I know first-hand what those early weeks after a spinal cord injury feel like.
The Step Up Scheme is often the first door back to hope for someone who’s just had their life turned upside down. Every mile that Jo walks will keep that door open for the next person.
“Please sponsor her if you can. Jo – I’m so proud of you, and I’ll be with you every step.”
To sponsor Jo, please visit:
Jo Godfrey is fundraising for The Neurokinex Charitable Trust
To learn more about the Neurokinex Step Up Challenge visit:
https://neurokinex.org/step-up-challenge-2026/
Pictured: Jo Godfrey (L) with Catarina Carvalho, clinical lead spinal and neuro rehab physiotherapist, Neurokinex
