(From the Herald Sun 7 June 2011) – Direct link HERE
A NEVER-say-die attitude has enabled three young Victorians to walk again after breaking their necks in accidents.
Rhiannon Tracey, 22, Josh Wood, 29, and Irwin Vale, 23, said doctors at first gave them no hope of walking again.
Now they are leading a project they believe may help others overcome crippling spinal injury.
They have licensing rights from Project Walk, a US-based spinal cord injury recovery centre, to establish a centre in Melbourne.
They believe Project Walk, a non-profit organisation, has much to offer through its “open-minded” approach to intensive exercise-based recovery.
They hope to raise $600,000 to $700,000 to open the centre within 18 months, Ms Tracey said.
All patients would first complete treatment at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre.
Ms Tracey, of Mernda, was injured diving into a pool on holiday 18 months ago, and doctors told her she’d be lucky to ever be able to feed herself, let alone walk.
But after two stints of exercise therapy at Project Walk in the US, she can walk with a frame.
“It’s just really important to keep things moving. If you don’t use it, you lose it,” she said.
Mr Vale, injured in a scooter accident nearly three years ago, said exercise, determination and positive thinking had been crucial.
Mr Vale, of Mornington, who walks with a frame, said having his limbs stretched and weight exercises to boost his bone strength had got him on his feet again.
Mr Wood, injured in a snowboarding accident 11 years ago, walks with the help of a cane, rides motorbikes and snowboards. Massage and positive thinking had helped him and his goal was to walk unaided by the end of the year.
———————
Josh is proud to be one of the ambassadors of Project Walk Melbourne.