It's definitely working (whatever it is) !!!

Over the last 5 weeks there has been a significant acceleration in my progress. Why? I can't be sure, but it coincides with me:
- re-starting meridian resistive stretching with Viv Spanopoulos (who's returned from Boston to Singapore for a few months)
- switching my meds (off Baclofen, onto Norgesic, which is a mix of paracetemol and a skeletal muscle relaxant - midler than Baclofen, which left me sluggish, but for seemingly good effects)
- continuing on with the great work with Swee, who continues to help me mix it up to increase my range and speed of movement and response and improve stability and control
- also continuing to see Elaine every 3 weeks or so for her fantastic physio/ bodywork,  whilst still finding benefits from the trauma release and other exercises she gets me to do.

Swee and Viv have both noticed it. Others have too. Here's the evidence - this is just a small selection from a long list of firsts and bests over the last couple of months!

This is from just before Christmas……

Last week, I did lots of work on slopes, including a traverse across a 45 degree incline - I'll explain what that's all about soon (some very exciting news to come)

And this morning, there was all sorts of stuff going on……. first time doing this step/jump/ land exercise

….. better jack knifes than before (much better)…..

….. this was really hard work, and you can see how I fight against the tone, but I manage to relax out of it (which is something I could not do until a couple of weeks ago)…..

….. Swee always finds a way to add a level of difficulty……. 

…. but having said that, this exercise was nearly impossible just a few months back (my next improvement is to keep the ball behind my head)…..

…. and this was new - the first set was better than this one, but even in this one I have a level of stability and control I did not have before….

And all that was followed by 20 minutes of interval training on the spin bike!! 

So, all going really, really well right now. Whatever we are doing, it's definitely working. Long may it continue!!  

An awesome result!

Pretty much all donations are in now, I think, and so the time has come to wrap up the 10K fund raising. We end at a whopping £17,010 - a truly fabulous result which makes me, and all who donated too I hope, very proud indeed. Thanks from me, and on behalf of Spinal Research. 

Both 10k's nailed!!

I DID IT!!!


The race went well. Up at 4am, to load up on pre-race calories (that helped a lot during the race), before being picked up at 5am by my trainer Swee and Chris, her partner. The team walking with me were gathered by 6.15 and by 6.45 I was done with my warm up routine and we headed to the start line. We crossed the start around 7.30. The weather was exactly what I'd hoped for - cloudy, relatively cool and with some light rain thrown in half way through! The first 3km was really good, I was relaxed, my walking was smooth and the team did a great job of fending off the runners and entertaining me at the same time. Things got progressively harder over the next 4km, and Swee's support really started to count as she coached me to change gait frequently to help keep the tone under control. That worked and the eighth and ninth kilometres felt good, but I started to feel it after we passed the 9km mark and the course merged with the end of the half and full marathon. The last kilometre was very hard, as fatigue, tightness and spasticity started to take hold. That's when I brought to mind your messages of support, and your belief helped fuel mine. The last 50m was bit of a stagger to the finish line. I crossed it in 3 hr25. In dead last place! And delighted with that!!!

Sunday was a day of many PB's. My previous longest walk was 8.3km. Sunday was 10km …. or closer to 12 if you add on the walk from the car to the start and back again. I'd taken breaks in all my long training walks. On Sunday, I did the 10k without stopping. And from when we left the car to when we got back, I'd been standing for over 6 and a half hours. Typing that has brought home the huge progress I've made since I signed up for the race back in September - and of course the million miles I've come since June 2011.

 

I'd expected to be very emotional at the end of the race and since. But that's not come. Instead, I've found myself reflecting on what I learned, about myself and about my potential to go further. I always believed in my ability to finish, driven to the line by determination. But in the last few weeks I've had to face up to doubts and anxieties - about the distance, the crowds of people, the time it would take, the heat, the risk of falling (which as some of you know I've done occasionally the last few months, too often, sometimes painfully), the intensity of the neuropathic pain. I found myself feeling fear, in a way I haven't experienced before. But last week I founds ways to deal with it. That worked, and on Sunday I beat it. Another lesson learned on this journey - perhaps my biggest yet. 

Now to the fund raising. Take a deep breath. Right now, the total raised stands at £13,133. And that's not the end of it. I know there's quite a bit more to come, including from Max and Amy's class mates. A couple of weeks ago I went to school to speak to them about spinal cord injuries, paralysis and the work Spinal Research is doing to find a cure. The story left a big, positive impact. It feels really special to have the kids engaged like that. I'll find out later this week, but I expect the money that the kids will raise to take the donations well over £14,000.  

I pinch myself when I think of that number. The response to this has exhausted my vocabulary. When you flew past the original £5k target, I was overwhelmed. When you passed £7.5k, I genuinely felt humbled. Now I don't know what to say. I just want you to know that you have moved me very, very deeply. More importantly, that's a big boost to the work being funded by Spinal Research. I feel like we have made a big difference. That's a privilege, and something to celebrate.

I am absolutely delighted. And very proud.

Paul

Thank you

One target met! Very proud and extremely grateful. Thanks everyone. Donations are still rolling in - next stop 11k!

One week til race day......

www.justgiving.com/Paul-Fairhurst

Kids on board!!!

Max & Amy's classes are doing sponsored events to raise funds for Spinal Research. I went to school yesterday to talk to the kids about spinal cord injuries, paralysis and the need to help find a cure. They were all brilliant and all of them said they will raise at least $50 - if that happens, that will take me over the 10,000 target - it will be great if the kids are the ones to get me across the line!

I heard from one of the mums to say her son was very moved and impacted. Very special to hear that

The race route...

Here it is..... the route for the 10k. Just under two weeks to go!!

Big progress

A couple of weeks ago I saw someone at the gym doing Bosu squats. I remember watching them, recalling how I did that exercise pre accident and wondering when I might do it again - if ever. On Tuesday, I got my answer! I can't describe how good this felt. I'm still excited days later! Added to that, I made great progress on sit ups - WITH a medicine ball! - and did some good work on the punch bag (which seems to be helping release upper body tightness). Really happy!!!

Yeah!!!

Excuse me, but fuck yeah!!! 8.28km this morning!!! 2 hour 35 minutes. Really, really chuffed.

This morning was sunny, very hot (around 32 degrees by the time I finished) and humid (after a storm yesterday evening) - the weather can't be any more challenging than this on race day.

Gait was very good in many parts - something different was happening this morning, in a positive way.

The last 400m was hard going though. I started to stiffen and lose balance. 5 meters from the car I tripped and fell in a bush! That's the first time I've fallen in over a month. I'll put this one down to fatigue! Recently I discovered a few quotes from Nelson Mandela. He said "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall". That quote helps me today.

How will Spinal Research use the money?

I asked Spinal Research for information on how the money being raised will be used. One of the research initiatives is into the clinical use of an enzyme called chondroitinase. After a SCI, a scar develops at the injury site. That scar blocks the way for re-growing nerves which might otherwise be capable of making useful new connections to restore movement and function. They have discovered that the bacterial enzyme chondroitinase could digest these molecules. That holds out the very real prospect that this most significant obstacle to regeneration might one day be therapeutically overcome. Spinal Research said:

"We now have a path, plan and timeline to take the enzyme chondroitinase to clinical trials. We plan two approaches to development, one by injecting the enzyme directly to the injury site, and the second by using gene therapy before delivery. Gene therapy has demonstrated the most effective results thus far, but it carries a greater number of uncertainties and thus concern for the regulatory authorities. We believe this parallel approach is therefore prudent and provides the greatest opportunity for success.

It’s obviously just one of our areas of work but it’s a huge step in the right direction and a good example how the funds you raise will help us reach clinical trials."

Fantastic to know!!

PS..... target raised to £10,000

My fundraising has almost reached £7,500. Thanks very much everyone. I've raised the target again - now £10,000!!

www.justgiving.com/Paul-Fairhurst