Point Two Equine has given its support to Spinal Research’s “Stand and Be Counted” appeal, to help people with spinal injuries.
Paradressage rider Susanna Wade, who is aiming for the London 2012 Olympics with her Para Trust Training horse Lambrusco, is the first person to benefit from the collaboration. She has received a £200 bursary awarded by Point Two to put towards training.
Susanna was involved in a car accident in 1991 but has now regained enough strength, balance and stability to be able to ride again.
More than 40,000 people in the UK are paralysed as a result of damage to the spinal cord, and around 800 more are added to this list each year.
Point Two’s Air Jacket aims to reduce the number of injuries. It reaches full inflation in 0.1 seconds offering protection to the collar of the neck, spine, coccyx and rib cage.
Event rider Oliver Townend credited the jacket for minimising the effects of his crunching fall in Kentucky recently.
The Stand and Be Counted appeal raised more than £30,000 last year.
Isabel Robinson from Spinal Research said: “The bursary to Susanna is going to help her with her training and we are now asking for other para-riders to apply for next year’s award.
“The Stand and Be Counted appeal was such a success last year, but we want to do even better in 2010. We are looking for new fundraisers to help us raise much-needed funds for our research into spinal cord repair.”
Anyone who wants to donate or organise an event should call: 01483 898786.
For further information on spinal cord injury visit: www.spinal-research.org
