Sports Paralysis Charity Regain launches Transforming Lives appeal
November 30, 2018
Regain, the UK charity for sports tetraplegics, this week launched its new campaign, Transforming Lives.
Tetraplegia - also known as quadriplegia - is paralysis causing partial or total loss of use of all four limbs and torso. In the UK, between 800 and 1,200 people are paralysed each year, with around half of these becoming tetraplegics. Many of the injuries occur through everyday activities such as social and leisure activities.
Aiming to raise one million pounds, the Transforming Lives campaign was officially launched at the Waldorf Hotel on Thursday 22nd November by the charity’s founder and chairman, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, and former Olympic swimmer and Regain patron, Mark Foster.
Regain is the only UK Charity dedicated solely to improving the independence of British men and women who have become tetraplegic as a result of a sports accident. It’s mission is to support and enable tetraplegics to access activities and equal opportunities that otherwise would not be possible.
Announcing the campaign, Lord Mountbatten commented: “Regain has been providing tetraplegics with extensive support for almost 30 years...The charity has so far helped some 3,500 sporting tetraplegics to regain their independence, and the Transforming Lives campaign will allow our support to reach even more people in need.”
Government funding and resources to aid tetraplegics is limited and varies widely in quality. Support provided by Regain is both practical and emotional, ranging from helping those affected perform day-to-day tasks to helping them cope with the psychological strain on sufferers and their family and friends.
Mark Foster commented: “Transforming Lives’ aim to raise one million pounds will help Regain to expand their operations, enabling, among other things, the provision of grants for specialist equipment including sports and powered wheelchairs, hand cycles, computers with voice activated software and fees for educational and vocational courses.”