Latest news with #TrishBrookes
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Crewe Woman with spinal injury takes on Superhero Tri
A woman who damaged her spine in a fall in the bathtub four years ago is preparing to take on a heroic fundraising Brookes, from Crewe, Cheshire, has previously abseiled down the Anfield stadium in Liverpool and swam with sharks in support of the Spinal Injuries told her she might lose the ability to walk, but that has not held her back – and on Friday she will be attempting a triathlon in as the only event of its kind in the country, The Superhero Tri sees people with and without disabilities taking part alongside one another. Ms Brookes, who requires crutches and at times a wheelchair to help her get about, said she felt her spinal cord injury had led her to take on challenges she might not otherwise have had the chance to said she would be dressed as Wonder Woman for the triathlon challenge."Why not dress up, make the most of the opportunity?" The event will involve a 150m (492 ft) swim in a lake, followed by a three-mile tandem bike ride which Ms Brookes will do with her race will finish with a "sprint" element, which she will be walking."Physically it's so draining, my body will take a couple of weeks afterwards really before it'll feel as normal as I can get," she told BBC Radio Stoke. She said she wanted to raise money and awareness for the Spinal Injuries Association - an organisation she admitted she had not heard of prior to her injury."Knowing that they're there in the background, and seeing the work that they do, I don't think I'd be who I am now without them," she addition to the triathlon, in September Ms Brookes will be abseiling 90ft off an old railway bridge in the Peak District, which will be combined with a mile-long canoe race across a online fundraising page has passed £1,000 so far but she hopes to raise more before completing the challenges. Read more Cheshire stories from the BBC and follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Crewe mum pledges to still do 'daft things' despite spinal injury
A woman who suffered a spinal injury four years ago has said she will continue to do "daft things" as she prepares to undertake her latest challenge for charity. Trish Brookes, from Crewe, Cheshire, lost feeling from her waist down a few days after she slipped and fell in the shower, in July had an operation to stop her becoming paralysed, but was left having to use crutches or a wheelchair to get her injury, the mum-of-three has since taken on a number of challenges to raise money for the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA). These include facing her fears by swimming with sharks and abseiling 100ft (30.5m) down Liverpool's Anfield Brookes is not stopping there and, on 20 September, and husband Ian, who is her carer, will be doing a 90ft (27m) abseil and a mile-long canoe trip in the Peak District. "It's all part of showing the world that we can still do so much – we can still challenge ourselves and go out there to do daft things," she told BBC Radio Stoke."Even though I've been told by my consultant there's further damage going on and the future is very uncertain… I just want to enjoy life and live it to the full."This spinal injury of mine is for life, but I'm not going to let it stop me doing things and be courageous by doing things I've never done before."Mrs Brookes said she has started feeling weakness on her left side and her doctor told her she would likely need another operation in the future. "I'm still trying to live the best that I can and do as many normal things as I can but it does take it out of you," she Brookes has raised about £3,000 so far and also helped to set up a support group for people with spinal injuries in Crewe last said: "It's just nice to be able to speak with other people who know exactly what we're going through." Read more Cheshire stories from the BBC and follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
