SIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES

In February we welcomed three new SIA trustees to the board, all with lived experience of SCI and the determination to make a difference. Let’s get to know them…

JAMES WOOD - 52

Injury level/type:

T7 complete

Describe yourself in one word: Logical

What do you consider your greatest achievement to be?

Embracing SCI

Do you have a hidden talent?

I’m a pretty competent swimmer, having swum the English Channel some years ago

SAMANTHA COLE - 44

LAUREN DOHERTY - 34

Injury level/type: C1/C2 incomplete

Describe yourself in one word: Determined

What do you consider your greatest achievement to be?

How do you like spending your leisure time?

Cooking, eating, trekking and motorsport

What does it mean to you to be a SIA trustee?

I am extremely grateful to the SIA membership for supporting my application to become a trustee, and consider it a huge privilege. In my professional life I have worked with people with SCI for many years and this has given me skills I’m confident will add value to SIA. I will endeavour to do what I can to ensure the success of SIA, its membership and affiliations into the future

Injury level/type: T11-L4 incomplete

Describe yourself in one word: Determined

What do you consider your greatest achievement to be? Graduating from medical school with Honours

Do you have a hidden talent?

I think it’s still hiding!

How do you like spending your leisure time?

Singing in a contemporary choir

What does it mean to you to be a SIA trustee?

It’s a privilege to have this opportunity to use both my lived and professional experience of SCI to help improve others’ quality of life. I am passionate about raising awareness of the more ‘hidden’ aspects of living with an SCI and its impact on bladder, bowel and mental health

After my accident I was told I would never again be able to breathe without the aid of a ventilator. I was determined that wasn’t going to be the case so each day I came off the ventilator to see how long I could breathe by myself; it was so scary. It started off being only seconds, but I built up to minutes and then hours. I now use my ventilator for four hours a day, just to give my body a rest

Do you have a hidden talent?

I am able to look past my disability

How do you like spending your leisure time?

With my family and friends, shopping, going to the cinema or concerts and taking my dog for walks

What does it mean to you to be a SIA trustee?

With my lived experience of SCI, I want to make as much of a difference to as many people as possible