Gold medal-winning Olympic showjumper Nick Skelton has become a new charity ambassador Spinal Research’s Saddle Up campaign.
“Nick understands first-hand the importance of supporting Spinal Research and its groundbreaking work to find treatments for paralysis,” said a spokesman.
Nick, who broke his neck in a fall in 2000 was told he could never ride again. He temporarily retired from the sport, before making a comeback in 2002 after his ligaments had recovered.
“Since then he has had a wonderful career and now has his sights set on Rio 2016. Not being able to walk, let alone ride is a frightening prospect, but Nick was one of the lucky people who recovered and now wants to give hope to those who have been paralysed by supporting Saddle Up for Spinal Research,” added the spokesman.
Every day three people in the UK and Ireland are told that they will never walk again and around 50,000 people are living with a spinal cord injury.
For more information visit: http://www.spinal-research.org/get-involved/fundraise/saddle-up/saddle-up-campaign/
Don’t miss H&H’s exclusive interview with Nick in today’s magazine (18 October, 2012)