Keele student to run London Marathon for charity after paralysis
"The charity came at a time when I really needed them and pulled me out of what was a really bad situation."Spencer Wadsworth is preparing to run further than he ever has before at the London Marathon on Sunday, a challenge in which he will raise money for the organisation that helped him.The 20-year-old, who grew up in Stretton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire, suffered a life-changing injury while playing in a rugby match for Keele University in October 2023. He said he decided to take on the marathon to give something back to the Rugby Football Union (RFU) Injured Players Foundation, which helped him realise his injury "wasn't the end".
Mr Wadsworth's right arm was paralysed following damage to his brachial plexus, a group of nerves that sends signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and hand.He said the charity reached out after it heard about his injury and helped him to change an "unhealthy mindset". "They bring people with similar injuries together and when you come into contact with these people you start to realise 'oh I'm not the only one'."It's a really positive, uplifting environment," he said.
'No other charity I'd run for'
Mr Wadsworth added that the charity also planned to fund a modified car so he could continue to drive. "I can't think of any charity that would make me run a marathon other than this one," he said.He has already raised more than £2,500 for the cause and said he hoped to raise £4,000 by Sunday.
'It's a privilege to be able to run'
He will wear a specialised sleeve during the race to keep his arm close to his body and prevent it from "dropping out of its socket". "I've never been much of a strong runner, but I'd like to think I've seen a lot of progression since I first came out of hospital and I couldn't walk."I always say it's a privilege to run and I've been consistent in my training so I am quietly confident," he added.
The 20-year-old said the technology to restore the feeling to his arm was not currently available, but added "we're not losing hope". "I'm still doing lots of physio with the hope that the nerves could re-grow and the technology in prosthetics is moving quickly."But it is something you have to come to terms with, you can't live every day and hope it's just going to get better, you do have to come to terms with it."
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