News of the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation

Following a recent meeting with Ann Scott (chair) and Tanya Hamilton (communications director) at NSIF, our chief executive, David Heard, was very confident in aligning Sportability with the aims and ambitions of this new organisation. He says, " I was hugely impressed, not only by the enthusiasm and positive approach of the people as NSIF, but also by the resourcefulness and forward thinking of the group. I am convinced that they will be a power for good in both research and rehabilitation in all forms of paralysis."

NSIF was founded by renowned chef David Nicholls following an accident in which his son, Daniel, was left paralysed from the chest down. Daniel had been standing in water between the safety flags on Bondi Beach, when he dived into an oncoming wave, hit an unseen sandbank and broke his neck. After a year spent at the specialist spinal unit, Stoke Mandeville, Daniel is on the long road to rehabilitation.

There are over 2.5 million people worldwide living with paralysis caused by spinal cord injury. Around 130,000 people every year join them. NSIF is focused on raising money in order to fund innovative medical research, that we all hope will lead to a repair and cure for spinal cord injury.

They are already reviewing some exciting research proposals and taking soundings on progressive rehabilitation. We at Sportability are pleased to be part of that process.