BBK– Ten year ambassadors for Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research
This year marks the ten year anniversary of Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research (SMSR) and Bolt Burdon Kemp (BBK) are proud to join SMSR as a ten year ambassador and support them in their aim to raise £100,000.
SMSR is an independent, national charity seeking to promote quality of life in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) through research. Their vision is to enable people with spinal cord injury to have life after paralysis without the setbacks of debilitating health complications. Over the past ten years SMSR have funded a whole host of research and since 2019 they have become a fully-grant making organisation to fund research in priority areas including urinary tract infection; pressure sores; neuropathic pain and assistive technology primarily for upper limb function.
SMSR is a charity that BBK have supported for several years now. Most recently in 2022 several members of the spinal injury team took part in Wheels At Work and Winter Wonder Wheels around a somewhat cold and windy Dorney Lake in support of SMSR. In January 2023 BBK had the privilege of sponsoring a fish and chip supper at Stoke Mandeville Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Unit. A night which was incredibly well attended by staff and patients alike. For myself and my colleague Charlotte Jose it was a wonderful opportunity to hear about the work that SMSR do from Trustee, Nigel Henderson (former Clinical Director of the NSIC), devouring some delicious food, and listen to a panel discussion with charity ambassadors Davey, Jamie, Jason, Kat and Ralph. The panel were incredibly welcoming and very open about their experiences both positive and negative. I have no doubt their top tips and invaluable words of advice will stay with many of those who attended.
So, what does the year ahead hold? Well as a ten year ambassador we are looking forward to helping SMSR continue to raise awareness of the work that they do and support them in achieving their target of £100,000. Part of this will include another race around Dorney Lake but this time (hopefully!) in the sun at the August Superhero Triathlon! Watch this space!!
