Staff Spotlight – Mark Holland
9 May 2025
In our first Staff Spotlight, meet Mark, our Regional Outreach Team Leader at Back Up, for East Anglia.
Mark supports patients and staff at hospitals in the East of England region. He shares how his personal experience of spinal cord injury brought him to Back Up – and how he’s pushing the boundaries.
“I’m married to Nicola and have three amazing children. Before my accident, my hobbies were being a good father and mountain biking. I was always the ‘rad dad’ on the school run!
Support from Back Up
“Then in the summer of 2023, I had my accident while mountain biking in Morzine, France. I don’t remember anything about it, except taking a photo at the top of the mountain. I woke up in intensive care in Geneva, Switzerland.
“I needed realignment surgery on my back, a cage put in around my T12 vertebrae, a collarbone rebuild and a small piece of my rib removed. I spent almost three weeks in Switzerland before returning to England where I spend three weeks in Kettering general hospital, five months in Corby Hospital before going to Stoke Mandeville spinal unit.
“Then in March 2024 I got discharged – and that’s when the real fun started! It was tough. But my wife received mentoring support from Back Up and I met Chris in the Regional Outreach team at Back Up; he provided the utmost support and help.
Pushing the boundaries with a spinal cord injury
Mark and his team completing The Push 2024
Taking part in The Push was an amazing experience – and really shows the dedication and commitment of Back Up to really push the boundaries of what’s possible!
“Now I work at Back Up and have been a model in Front Row, our fundraising fashion show and climbed Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon in June 2024, with two of our corporate partners! Our team even won the Top Fundraiser award. Taking part in The Push was an amazing experience – and really shows the dedication and commitment of Back Up to really push the boundaries of what’s possible!
“I’m taking part in The Push again this summer. I want to show people in wheelchair that you can do it. You can live, you can live well, you can live independently – and also have a lot of fun doing so! I’d love you to join me – register online and push the limits, you can do it!” – Mark
Join The Push – Yr Wyddfa 2025 with Back Up
Friday 27 – Sunday 29 June 2025
Conquer Yr Wyddfa (formerly known as Snowdon), the highest mountain in Wales, and help transform the lives of people affected by spinal cord injury across the UK.
Join a team or organise your own – find out more and register online today!
Register for The Push today
