Charity
The Benevolent Fund supports players whose lives are affected by serious injuries sustained while playing Rugby League
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Carls marathon challenge
Hi, thanks for visiting my page. Through Virgin Money Giving, you can sponsor me and donations will be quickly processed and passed to Try Assist Rugby League Benevolent Fund. Virgin Money Giving is a not for profit organisation and will claim gift aid on a charity's behalf where the donor is eligible for this. I really appreciate all your support and thank you for any donations.
Here is my story.......
In March 2009, I was severely injured playing rugby. I went in for a tackle and suffered a spinal cord injury which left me immediately paralysed from the neck down. I was in hospital for 4 months. Shortly after my accident, I was moved to Pinderfields Spinal Injury Unit. A disc had pushed onto my spinal cord at level C3/4 in my neck. This meant that I was paralysed from the point of injury downwards. I lost the use and sensation in all of my body except my head. I was on complete bed rest for 6 weeks, lying completely flat. As I could do nothing for myself, people had to feed me, wash me and even brush my teeth!! I had physiotherapy almost every day, and even though I could not feel them moving my legs and arms, I looked forward to it, as I knew this is what would help me to recover. Feeling and movement came back very gradually. It was as small as moving a toe and a thumb to progressing to moving a finger and a foot. It was slow, but every improvement was a good sign.
The day my bed rest was over, I was hoisted into a wheelchair. This was an exciting moment for all of us, as I was actually out of my bed for the first time since my accident. My excitement was soon dampened as I had built up in my head that as soon as I got in the chair, I could practice wheeling about to build up my strength. I couldn’t even move the chair an inch!! I worked and worked until I could wheel the chair up the corridor. I set myself targets every day as I wanted to be able to walk again. Another major target was the fact that I wanted to walk down the aisle as I was due to get married in Jersey on 1st August. At times, people doubted that this would happen as most people with a spinal cord injury never walk again but I was determined to get to Jersey for my wedding day. The journey to walking was a slow process as I had to build up my strength to even transfer from the bed to the wheelchair, to turn over in bed, to do simple things like feed myself and blow my own nose. These are all things we take for granted but I had to learn to do them again.
I was finally ready to stand in a standing frame but could only do it for minutes at a time. I went to the gym every day and built up the strength to do it for longer and longer. I then progressed to taking a few steps in a zimmer frame, to walking between parallel bars, and then using crutches. By the time I left the hospital, I was using walking sticks. I was still slow and unsteady on my feet but I managed to get to Jersey and walk down the aisle with my wife. It was a magical day that was made even more special because of what we had been through. We have since been blessed with a beautiful baby girl who is now 5 months old
I want to take part in the London Marathon as I want to raise £5000 for the Try Assist Rugby League Benevolent Fund. The benevolent fund charity has helped and supported me since my injury and I am still having physiotherapy which is paid for by the fund. This would be my way of saying thank you. So many other players and their families have been helped by the fund and the money I raise will go towards supporting their continuing needs but also anyone else who needs support in the future. I have been extremely lucky. Unfortunately that is not always the case so any money you donate will make such a difference. The marathon will be a huge challenge for me and I am hoping to complete it under 7 hours.
I will keep you updated on my training progress through my blog - The link is below.
You can email me at: carlsmarathonchallenge@gmail.com
Wish me luck!!
MESSAGE FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF THE MARATHON:
I am proud to announce that I completed the Virgin London Marathon in 6 hours 40 mins. I am so pleased I managed to achieve it, especially as I was told I would never run 800m again. It was an amazing day and I thoroughly enjoyed, eventhough it was a tough challenge. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has sponsored and supported me. The Leeds Rhinos have donated £1000 and William Hill gave me a free £100 bet at 7:1 that if I finished under 7hours, they would donate £700. This should bump up my total significantly and with gift aid I should have almost made my target. Thanks again, the money will be used to help others that havent been as lucky as I have.
Recent donors
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Gary & Nina £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 02.05.11 Congratulations Carl - Fantastic achievement for a great cause. |
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Steve Boothroyd £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 30.04.11 Congratulations, Carl, on the fantastic achievement of completing the London Marathon.I don't know if you remember me from many years back. I was regular referee and occasional coach when you played for Leeds Schools' Rugby League Under 13 City Boys! |
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Karen Holmes £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 28.04.11 Well done Carl you have tremendous courage Best Wishes Karen Holmes x |
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Dean £25.00 (+ £6.25 giftaid) 21.04.11 Well done mate, we're all so proud of you. |
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The Walrus £26.00 (+ £6.50 giftaid) 21.04.11 well done eggman ya did good! |
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Tina Ward £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 21.04.11 Well done Carl. Leeds Rhinos Fan |
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Tim Ward £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 21.04.11 Well done Carl. Tim Ward Leeds Rhinos Fan |
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Jo Garbutt £5.00 (+ £1.25 giftaid) 20.04.11 Well done Carl - you really are an inspiration and one of the most determined people I have ever had the pleasure to know. xx |
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Sue Taylor £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 20.04.11 Well done, you're a star. |
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rita p £10.00 19.04.11 Well done Carl, good luck for the future |
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Sue Ali £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 19.04.11 congratulations Carl. you are an inspiration to carry on. |
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Emma Williams £5.00 (+ £1.25 giftaid) 19.04.11 Congratulations-a great achievement |
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Gem Grain £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 19.04.11 Well done Dacres!...so proud of you matey xxx |
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Joanna McMorris £5.00 (+ £1.25 giftaid) 19.04.11 Well done Carl! |
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Anonymous £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 19.04.11 |
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Rebecca Harwood £5.00 19.04.11 Well done Carl for your amazing achievement. You're a true hero - nice to know I work with someone so special! xxxx |
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Simon West £100.00 (+ £25.00 giftaid) 18.04.11 Well Done Mate, You've just proved that...Tough people last but Tough times don't |
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Kath and Mick Swires £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 18.04.11 Hi Carl so glad you finished in under 7 hours lianne and rosie will be so proud of you as we all are you,ve done brilliant |
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Mark Denton £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 18.04.11 |
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Steve & Vanessa Carr £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 17.04.11 Hope all went well with the marathon. Well done ! |
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Frazer £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 17.04.11 Carl, hello, you don't know me but I was one of the guys whose rugby ball you returned to us when it strayed onto the course on Marsh Wall in today's marathon, at around the 18 mile mark. Thanks for that and best of luck with your continuing recouperatio |
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clare-leeds rhinos fan! £5.00 (+ £1.25 giftaid) 17.04.11 |
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Janet Southall £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 17.04.11 My daughters are students of Boston Spa so we know personally of your fantastic recovery. We are also Leeds Rhinos supporters and so support the Benevolent Fund. We wish you every success in the marathon and admire your courage and determination. |
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Rob Manley £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 17.04.11 Good luck Carl , you're an inspiration! |
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Carly James £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 16.04.11 Run Dacres run Dacres run run run xxx |
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sam swires and family £35.00 (+ £8.75 giftaid) 16.04.11 good luck carl |
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jenni £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 16.04.11 |
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Jonkar £5.00 (+ £1.25 giftaid) 16.04.11 All the best Carl |
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Barbara Osborn £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 16.04.11 All the very best for Sunday we think you are great |
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Jade Gartside £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 16.04.11 Good luck!!! |
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Nicky Malthouse £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 16.04.11 Carl, good luck, Rosie is going to be the proudest daughter of all, from Nicky and Andy |
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Diane Childs £25.00 (+ £6.25 giftaid) 16.04.11 |
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ERNIE BUTTERFIELD £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 16.04.11 BEST OF LUCK MATE |
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Neil Hamilton £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 16.04.11 Good luck dude, saw you at the game tonight, bad result but hope you can lift the spirits and complete the marathon. |
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The Dohertys £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 15.04.11 Hi Carl,we heard about your accident and marathon run on the news this morning. Hope you are keeping well. Good luck x |
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Trevor and Els from Jersey!!!!xx £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 15.04.11 Hi Carl Good Luck on Sunday, we'll be looking out for you on TV! You can do it!! |
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Kerry £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 15.04.11 wishing you lots of luck for Sunday, we will be looking out for you and hopefully Rosie can see her Fab daddy!!! |
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Anonymous £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 15.04.11 |
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Richard Lewis £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 14.04.11 Good luck Carl, hope it goes really well for you |
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Paul Ackroyd £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 13.04.11 Hi Carl, i cant beleive youre doing this when last time i saw you you were stressing about a short run! You really are an inspiration mate, i hope you Lianne and the little one are all doing great, good luck with the run, im exhausted thinking about it! |
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Lucy and Phil £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 13.04.11 Good luck Carl. Can't believe the progress you've made since I saw you at Pinderfields - you're an inspiration! Take care and enjoy crossing the finishing line! All the best. Lucy and Phil. x |
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Jodi, Alan and baby Humphreys £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 13.04.11 Go Carl! All the very best for Sunday we will be thinking of you. Jodi, Alan and bump! Xx |
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Auntie Gail and Uncle Kev £50.00 12.04.11 Best of luck Carl, you are an inspiration! xx |
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linda and stephen aka the in-laws £100.00 12.04.11 We are so proud of you carl. we know that whatever time you take you will have given it 150% just take care. good luck on the day we will be with you every step of the way ! xx |
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Helen Bowker £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 11.04.11 Good luck Carl! |
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Anonymous £25.00 (+ £6.25 giftaid) 11.04.11 Good luck Carl . The Forsell's |
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Sue Pearson £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 10.04.11 Good luck Carl, you are really are a fantastic person with a heart of gold. |
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Jon Tyndall £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 08.04.11 Good luck Carl! You're a great inspiration. |
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Mally & Beryl Waite £30.00 (+ £8.46 giftaid) 04.04.11 In those dark days of March 2009 you always told me you would get there, you really are a fighter, Best Wishes , Mally & Beryl Waite |
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Jules £10.00 (+ £2.82 giftaid) 31.03.11 Best of luck, from Jules (Apparelyzed) |
