ONE year on from a life-changing accident, Frome’s Josh Payne-Gover, who has been left paralysed, completed the Frome 5k, raising money for The Stars Appeal who have helped him during his recovery.
A year ago, whilst on a trip to the beach with his friends, Josh dived into shallow water. As he landed, the impact crushed his neck and back, severely damaging his C6/C7 vertebrae and spinal cord. He is now left paralysed from the chest down, with a complete spinal cord injury.
A year on, Josh remains in hospital but has taken part in the Frome 5k to give back to The Stars Appeal, a charity based at Salisbury District Hospital, who raise money for patients and their families to fund extra care and equipment.
He has raised over £2,000 for the spinal unit’s recreational fund, part of the charity that takes patients out on day trips.
Speaking to Frome Times, Josh reflected on the past year following his accident and of his achievement completing the Frome 5K.
He said, “I think I’ve adapted extremely well considering my level of injury. Don’t get me wrong, everyday tasks are very difficult now, I’ve still got lots to learn but I feel that that’s always going to be the case. I’m still in hospital which has been over a year, I feel the next part of my rehab will happen once I have been discharged.
“I’ve said from the start that I will always raise money for the charities that help me and The Stars Appeal have been the first charity to do so. There was no other place I wanted to do my first challenge other than in my hometown, and the support was crazy and overwhelming, claps and cheers on all parts of the route. The 5km was extremely tough, harder than I thought it would be, but I completed it a lot quicker than I thought it would be, rough with the smooth I guess!”
Josh’s cousin, Zac Alsop who was there on the day of the accident, also completed the 5k in a wheelchair.
Josh said, “It was awesome to have Zac do the 5k with me, it was harder for him as he used my hospital chair which I added a few kilograms to without telling him – just as an extra challenge! I waited for him after about 2k and his hands were cut and bleeding – he’d make a terrible wheelchair user. But we crossed the line together and that was great.
“The support has been unreal from the day of my injury, so overwhelming. It’s kept me positive and in the mindset to keep pushing forward. If it wasn’t for the support and messages I receive each week, I’d probably be in a dark hole, I’ll never be able to thank everyone enough for that, but I am so grateful.
“As for the 5k, the support I received around the whole route was also overwhelming. I was in tunnel vision but I just remember people clapping, and screaming and shouting my name which was great.
“I don’t have any plans set in stone for my next challenge, I’m weighing up my options, but it definitely won’t stop there. Each challenge I do will progressively get harder as I really want to test myself physically.”
To donate to Josh’s fundraiser to help more long term spinal patients receive recreational day trips from The Stars Appeal, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/joshpaynegover.
