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“Climbing Ben Nevis when I could walk was tough. Doing it in a wheelchair will be an epic challenge”
Watch Sean on London Tonight:
Ten years ago, just weeks before his 25th birthday, Sean McCallion, Back-Up's Outreach and Support Manager, achieved a lifelong ambition by climbing Ben Nevis. The very next day, all his future dreams lay in tatters after he broke his neck in a snowboarding accident and was paralysed from the chest down. He said:
"In the first days after my accident, as I lay in my hospital bed, the outlook for the rest of my life was pretty bleak,” admits Sean.
But rather than give up, with the support of The Back-Up Trust, Sean completely turned his life around. He now plans to tackle the might of Ben Nevis again in his wheelchair on Sunday, 5th September to raise money for Back-Up and Lochaber Mountain Rescue who airlifted him to safety.
"This is my way of saying thank you to two charities that I owe so much to,” said Sean.
"When I was told I would never walk again. I suddenly had to re-evaluate so many things I had previously taken for granted.”
But not long after his accident, Sean attended a multi-activity course with Back-Up and hasn't looked back since. He said:
"Leaving my wheelchair behind on the shore as I sailed and kayaked in the Lake District, went camping, land yachting and even abseiling, made me realise that my injury need not stop me from doing anything."
Sean will be climbing Ben Nevis with a group of friends and his girlfriend, Clare. He said:
"Climbing Ben Nevis 10 years ago was tough - ascending in a wheelchair, even with a willing team, will be an epic challenge.
"But my involvement with Back-Up has shown me that anything is possible.”
If you wish to donate to Sean's appeal, please go to his Just Giving page.
Darren Heaton, who is a wheelchair user and supporter of The Back-Up Trust, is planning a 10-day charity trek from his home town of Glossop near Manchester to Wellington Barracks, the home of the Grenadier Guards in central London from the 14th – 23rd September in aid of several military charities.
Darren and Bertie!
Darren hopes to raise funds for several charities that include The Grenadier Guards Colonel’s Fund, SSAFA, St. Dunstans and The Poppy Appeal. Accompanying Darren during this event will be Bertie Bear who is the official Mascot of the Grenadier Guards. Bertie Bear regularly travels around the world in association with raising funds for injured servicemen and has recently returned from Afghanistan. Darren said:
"My son, Chris Heaton, is a serving Grenadier Guard who has recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Whilst out there he unfortunately lost comrades during engagements with the Taliban and witnessed injuries to close friends.
"With such a personal connection, this has led me to attempt this 239-mile journey to raise money for injured British troops.
"As a wheelchair user, the challenge ahead is a little daunting however I am determined to complete the journey to show my determination in supporting the UK soldiers who put their lives at risk everyday to make the world a safer place for us all."
To donate to Darren's chosen charities click here
Supported by The Back-Up Trust, the Royal Society of Arts is running its first three-day, free, residential workshop in creative design for eight spinal cord injured people from 2-4 November at the RSA in central London.
Design is deciding what something is going to be like and how it's going to work. The "something" can be a product like a telephone, an environment like a kitchen if a service like public transport. Design encourages creative thinking and problem solving - both skills which can help rebuild confidence and independence after a life changing injury.
The leaders of this new workshop are the designer Pascal Anson, RSA Director of Design Emily Campbell, Yanki Lee and Research Fellow at the Royal College of Art. Three eminent spinal cord injured designers, Danny Brown, David Constantine and Adam Thomas will also join the workshop to tell their inspiring stories and meet participants.
The workshop is free, including accommodation and meals, but participants need to fund their own travel. If you would like to be considered as a participant email emily.campbell@rsa.org.uk or call Sean in the office on: 0208 875 1805.
