Fundraising campaigns

Although paralysis is a devastating condition, relatively small numbers of people are affected, around 40,000 in the UK, and certainly not large enough numbers for any of the major pharmaceutical companies to be interested in developing treatments.

We receive no direct government funding and so we rely solely on the generosity of our supporters – individual donors, fundraisers, corporates and trusts.

A spinal injury could happen to any one of us but the biggest cause of spinal cord injury is falls – from a height, down stairs etc. Road traffic accidents are the next biggest cause. The third largest cause is sport – principally diving, horse riding and rugby.

Our fundraising strategy has been developed with this in mind. We target key sporting communities or “high risk” groups.

Since 2000 we have run a Saddle Up campaign for the equestrian community (various celebrity support, race days, sponsored rides, press competitions and promotions, equestrian events, horse trials etc.) and in that time we have raised in excess of £1m for the charity. Our latest Saddle Up appeal – Stand and Be Counted – is fronted by event rider Claire Lomas, who was paralysed after falling from her horse at Osberton Horse Trials in 2007, and supported by many top equestrian sportsmen and women.

Motorbikes – and the launch of our Ride Out campaign in 2007 – is another key focus for us. In 2008 and 2009, several clubs have been involved in various events and fundraising initiatives including the Knobblies, Curvy Riders, Moto Guzzi, the BMW GSA Club, Suzuki V-Strom BG alongside dealerships including South London Motorrad and track activity with Hottrax and Rockingham.

Our third major campaign area was launched in 2008 – Contact Rugby. Various rugby players have become ambassadors to promote the campaign wherever possible. A series of City Lunches, sporting events and fundraising dinners will help to drive awareness, support and income.

The Runners Network is a very lucrative part of our fundraising business; we have 100 Gold Bond places in the London Marathon each year as well as guaranteed places in the Great North Run. Fundraisers who run for Spinal Research have raised in excess of £1m over the last 10 years.

Finally, we have our traditional volunteer network of fundraisers organising many small, medium and large activities throughout the UK that help us to reach our target of £2m pa.

Our support comes from those that have been paralysed, friends and family, carers, and those that have broken their backs or necks and have been lucky enough to walk away from paralysis – or ‘Near Misses’. The Near Miss Club was set up to target another set of people with a clear connection to our work. Anecdotal evidence suggests that for every one person that sustains an injury and is paralysed, AT LEAST SIX walk away.

On Spinal Injuries Awareness Day, in May 2008, we launched MySpine.org – a new social networking site for people whose lives have been affected by spinal cord injury. We aim to build a community of people interested in spinal cord injury – and ask visitors to join to share their story and meet others who have done so.

Our fundraising coupled with the important regular gifts, donations and legacies, trust donations and support from corporate activity help us to ensure that the research continues.