NSIC 80th Fundraiser
Thursday 8 February 2024
Last week during the Founder’s Day Event on 1 February, we launched our NSIC 80th Fundraiser to celebrate The National Spinal Injuries Centre’s (NSIC) 80th year. The fundraiser aims to raise £80,000 during the centre’s 80th year, with money being used to continue to fund the best treatments and care for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) as well as future research into new rehabilitation approaches and technologies.
Thanks to generous donations, we raised the first £405 with a bake sale on the day.
The NSIC Founder’s Day Event was attended by colleagues, patients, their families and friends.
The NSIC at Stoke Mandeville Hospital is the only NHS spinal unit with a dedicated children’s ward and Upper Limb Lab. The centre also has historic paralympic roots.
Watch a 30-second video about the Founder’s Day celebrations:
The NSIC Patient Education Team
NSIC patients benefit from access to innovative surgeries to improve hand and arm function, treatments to help with managing breathing, bladder, pressure sores, and bowel functioning as well as different approaches to patient education and psychological wellbeing. All of this is delivered by a multi-disciplinary team of doctors, therapists and nurses who provide the personal and often life-long care spinal cord injured patients need.
A holistic approach is particularly important in the treatment of children with spinal cord injuries. Children and young people’s rehabilitation focuses on their physical and psychological functioning, as well as helping them gain independence and fulfil their potential in life both at home, school, socially and in pursuing their wider interests, be this in the arts, sports or elsewhere.
Having the only dedicated children’s spinal cord injury ward in the country, means that the NSIC is uniquely placed to provide care to patients like Tristan Nattrass, who is 14 years old. Tristan developed a spinal cord injury due to an existing medical condition and has been receiving treatment at the NSIC’s Paediatric Ward, St Francis. The injury has affected Tristan’s ability to walk, and he has been participating in rehabilitation including training using a specialised stationary bike as well as practicing wheelchair manoeuvres. Keen on wheelchair rugby and racing, Tristan has ambitions to become a future Paralympian.
My family and friends have been an amazing support to me while I’ve been receiving treatment. The nurses and therapists at the ward here have also really helped me find the motivation to set goals and build on my rehabilitation. It’s through them that I’ve become so inspired to pursue wheelchair rugby and racing. I hope to be back for the inter spinal games later in the year and eventually work hard to become a paralympic athlete.
Pictured above (l to r): St Francis Ward Sister Sara O’Shea with patient Tristan Nattrass
If we didn’t have this dedicated ward, patients like Tristan wouldn’t benefit from care that is tailored specifically to children and young people with spinal cord injuries. We are the only dedicated ward in the UK that has specific expertise in children and young people with SCI. We are extremely proud of what our young people go on to achieve in life beyond the centre.
The Trust is very proud of the National Spinal Injuries Centre. And we hope to continue to develop our education, research and innovation to be at the frontier of treating spinal cord injuries for many years to come.
Support the Appeal!
Help us to continue to fund the best treatments and care for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) as well as future research into new rehabilitation approaches and technologies.
More to come during the NSIC's 80th year
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