Kathy’s story: Overcoming challenges after spinal cord injury
3 February 2026
Meet Kathy:
- Loves basketball, rugby and tennis
- Has a black belt in three martial arts
- Represents Team GB in para-dancing
Kathy sustained an L1 spinal cord injury after falling down the stairs in 1996. She damaged her spine further in 2001 after dislocating her T5 vertebrae, and in 2023 she underwent spinal surgery from C2 to C7. “I started out using a manual wheelchair and then I became a power chair user. I now have limited movement in my arms and no sensation from my chest down.”
Following her injuries, Kathy’s life changed completely. “My world was shattered. Everything was turned upside down and I lost the love and freedom of life.”
Whilst she was recovering from her surgery, a physiotherapist encouraged her to reach out to Back Up. “I went online and saw the range of courses that the charity offers. I wanted to see how far I could push myself now my condition had changed, so I signed up for the multi-activity course in Exmoor.”
Taking part in our multi-activity residential empowered her to embrace new challenges. “I loved daring myself to try new experiences, like zip-lining, abseiling and canoeing. The Back Up team were really encouraging and they helped me believe in myself again.”
She also discovered a strong support network. “For the first time ever, I was surrounded by people like me. There were individuals who could walk, manual chair users and power chair users, and we all shared our experiences to help each other. The course helped me realise I wasn’t alone.”
Throughout the week, Kathy joined a number of wheelchair skills sessions. “I knew how to move around in my wheelchair, however I wanted to increase my confidence. The trainers taught me lots of useful techniques for navigating tricky terrain like grass, and they showed me how to use straps to help me feel more secure.”
“The big thing I wanted to learn was how to get up and down kerbs in my power chair. Having somebody there to talk me through it gave me courage and the trainer made me feel safe as he guided me through each step. When I went down the kerb for the first time, I instantly knew my world had opened up. I felt like I’d gone to the moon and back, and I was beaming from ear to ear.”
Inspired by her own experience, she later became a Back Up wheelchair skills trainer. “I want to help others like me. Not knowing wheelchair skills narrowed my world significantly, and I don’t want anyone else’s world to feel smaller because of that.”
When asked what advice she would give to others affected by spinal cord injury, Kathy says, “There are things that will challenge you in life and admitting that you need help is scary. But with Back Up, you can connect with people who understand and find support at every stage of your journey. Pick up the phone or send them an email and your world will be opened up – just like mine was.”
