Paralympian wheelchair rugby stars Jonathan Coggan MBE and Kylie Grimes MBE – who both made history as members of Great Britain’s Gold Medal-winning team at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo – are urging people to ‘go the extra mile’ this July in a fundraising challenge to safeguard the Neurokinex Step Up Scheme for newly injured adults and children.
Jonathan and Kylie both have first-hand experience of the positive impact of the Neurokinex ground-breaking rehabilitation which has been integral to the support of their respective sports training over many years.
Neurokinex is the UK’s leading specialist spinal cord injury rehabilitation provider with facilities in Crawley, Hemel and Bristol.
Its Step Up Scheme provides a life-changing set of six free rehab sessions to adults and children with a new spinal cord injury.
An absolute lifeline that enables people to access the world-class Neurokinex facilities and expertise, the Scheme costs the Neurokinex Charitable Trust £420 per person to fulfil and relies on funding for its survival.
In a bid to keep the Step Up Scheme running for another year, Neurokinex needs people to collectively raise £20,000 by being sponsored to take part in its week-long Step Up Challenge.
What is the Step Up Challenge?
The Neurokinex Step Up Challenge will run from Monday, July 25th to Sunday, July 31st – during which time people will be sponsored to complete their mile – or miles!
They can run, walk, push, ride or swim themselves to reach their target within that week. Targets include one mile, five miles, 10 miles, 20 miles and 50 miles.
People can build up their distance indoors or outside and Neurokinex clients can cover some of theirs during their weekly rehab sessions.
Paying it forward
Many people going the extra mile for Neurokinex enjoyed the Step Up Scheme themselves. Knowing first-hand the physical and psychological value of this early intervention following their injury, they are keen to fundraise to enable others to have this great opportunity.
Neurokinex Trainers stepping up to the challenge
In addition to their clients going the extra mile, all the Neurokinex trainers have pledged to run this distance on Friday July 29th to/from their respective centres. They will be counted down to start by their clients who will also bestow their medals around their necks upon completion of the distance.
“I have seen first-hand the amazing work that Neurokinex does and their support of my rehab and training goals has been second-to-none,” say Kylie Grimes MBE, who made history at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo as part of the GB team who won their first-ever gold in the Wheelchair Rugby.
“When you’re newly injured, it can be confusing and hard to know where to turn and who can help you. The Neurokinex Step Up Scheme gives vital support, reassurance and help to people and gives them the chance to try its innovative programmes and specialist therapies.”
“I know from my personal experience that rehab of this quality can be life-changing,” says Jonathan Coggan MBE, who regularly attends Neurokinex in Hemel Hempstead.
“The Step Up Scheme is an amazing opportunity for newly injured people to access these superb facilities and I would urge people to go the extra mile in this year’s Step Up Challenge to make sure people can access Neurokinex in this way. The trainers are fantastic there and I will enjoy cheering the Hemel team on to run their mile,” he says.
How to take part
- Participants can sign up to the Step Up Challenge here Run Things
The entry cost is £10 for adults and £8 for children, including a medal
- Sponsors can donate to the Step Up Challenge page here The Step Up Challenge 2022 – JustGiving