An Aberdeenshire man who suffered life-changing injuries is inspiring a fundraising effort to help rebuild other people’s lives.
Life changed for the Dickinson family when they were involved in a car accident in 2009.
Sarah, James and then 17-year-old son Sam were heading off from Stonehaven to visit family in Bath during the Christmas holidays when they hit black ice on the A90 just 5km from their home.
Their car left the road, rolled once, landing on its wheels, but leaving their lives nonetheless turned upside down.
Sam’s neck was broken in the accident, and he now lives with a high-level spinal cord injury and paralysis affecting all four of his limbs.
The injury has had a massive effect on Sam, now 26, and his whole family.
“Sam’s injury has to be taken into account at all times,” says Sarah, Sam’s mother. “If we want to go somewhere, then that needs to be accessible for him to be part of everything we do when we’re together.
“Life is not the same but that doesn’t mean it’s not good – it just has a new dimension added to it.
“Sam is living his life independently and I really wanted that for him and I want that for everyone who is affected by spinal cord injury.”
The experiences Sam and his family have gone through have meant that they have had to find new ways to have fun together, especially when doing activities as a family.
This motivated Sarah to come up with the SCI Tri Challenge, a completely accessible triathlon that anyone can participate in to get healthy and active.
The challenge involves swimming 1,000 25-metre lengths, cycling 100km and running 10km over eight weeks, and is designed to be accessible to as many people as possible, with people able to undertake part of the challenge as a part of a collective team effort.
Individuals can take part by doing all three elements themselves, or by forming a team with one or two others so that the three elements are covered between them.
The event runs for the duration of July and August and participants do what they can.
Forty-three people got involved in the last challenge Sarah organised, raising £13,000.
Through this new inclusive challenge, Sarah hopes to raise even more money and awareness for Back Up as well as for Aspire and Spinal Research – all spinal cord injury charities.
“I would like to see an increased awareness of these three charities as well as awareness raised about the injury itself and how it affects families,” said Sarah.
The family want to get as many people involved in the challenge as possible, so they’ve ensured that the challenge is an all-age, all-ability event that is accessible to everyone.
“The event is about being part of something. It’s for everyone to get involved with, regardless of ability.
“It‘s not how far you go or how fast you do it that matters but setting distances that challenge you which, when done, will make you feel brilliant about what you have achieved,” says Sarah.
Sam added: “I think one of the great things about previous fundraising challenges that Mum has organised is the togetherness.
“There has always been a feeling of community and shared achievement for everyone involved.
“I’m really hoping for something similar with this one and I’m looking forward to it. I’ll still find a way to compete with my brother Andrew!”
If you’d like to find out how you can get involved with the SCI Tri Challenge, please get in touch with Alex or call her on 0208 875 1805.
