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Thank you so much!

Pictured here with the three Spinal Injuries Scotland volunteers are Christine and Bill, senior figures from Glasgow Caledonian University who came along to the SIS offices in Cambuslang to present a glass trophy to Andy, Jamie and Kevin.

The three SIS men had supported over a dozen nursing recruitment events at the university by describing to an audience of nursing applicants their own patient and outpatient experiences as they recovered from their spinal injuries.

Forthcoming Attraction!

The Spinal Injuries Unit at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is currently planning its 25th Anniversary celebrations with support from Spinal Injuries Scotland. It’s provisionally planned for the 5th September 2017, so watch our website and Facebook and Twitter page for all the details. There could be an invitation coming your way!

Team of the year! SIS in action.

Pictured above is the new publicity in the spinal injuries unit in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for the peer support service offered every weekday by volunteers and staff from Spinal Injuries Scotland. This is a great credit to everyone involved, especially the volunteers, many of whom face real challenges themselves in coming along to help people in the unit come to terms with their injuries. More information on page 5.

The reactions from the audiences on the day reflected the profound and very real impact that Andy, Kevin and Jamie made on hundreds of would-be nurses. All of them spoke eloquently and honestly about what it takes to be a good nurse. And all of them were shameless in milking the (albeit fully deserved) applause they got from the hundreds of people they spoke with. Congratulations to all of them, a credit to themselves and the human spirit and great ambassadors for Spinal Injuries Scotland.

Royal Garden Party

Pictured, resplendent in kilt and sporran, is Alex Findlay, one of the SIS peer support volunteers, proud to represent Spinal Injuries Scotland at the Royal Garden Party at Holyrood Palace on the 4th July, 2017. Alex, previously present at the Ceremony of the Keys, has become the unofficial SIS royal watcher!

Gold Medallists Honoured by the Queen

Everyone at Spinal Injuries Scotland is delighted to congratulate Karen Darke, Jo Butterfield and Gordon Reid. All three were included the 2017 New Year Honours list after winning gold medals at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. The Queen presented them with their MBE's this summer at a ceremony in Edinburgh.

Spinal Injuries Scotland memberKaren Darke received her MBE for services to sport, particularly cycling and triathlon after speeding to gold in Brazil. The hand cyclist was fastest in the H1-3 time trial and told the BBC it was a "great honour" to receive the MBE. She also paid tribute to all the people who have helped her along the road to her incredible achievement. Look out for a special feature interview with Karen in our next edition.A great story, not to be missed!

Another member of Spinal Injuries Scotland, Jo Butterfield was also at The Palace of Holyroodhouse to be honoured by the Queen. Jo, already European and world champion, set a new world record in Rio in the F51 Club Throw. She received her MBE for services to field athletics and can be seen defending her world championship title in London this summer. Jo featured in the Spring 2015 edition of Newsline and her fascinating story is well worth a read. Archived editions of Newsline are available to read on the Spinal Injuries Scotland website.

The third Scottish Paralympian to receive an MBE was tennis star Gordon Reid. 2016 was an outstanding year for Gordon. It began with him winning his first grand slam singles title, the Australian Open. Later in the year, he added another grand slam title to the trophy cabinet by taking the singles championship at Wimbledon. The year was topped off with an incredible gold medal at the Paralympics in Brazil. A very proud Gordon celebrated receiving his MBE for services to wheelchair tennis along with his parents and tennis coach. He told the BBC they were the people who have "helped me get here the most out of anyone.”

Karen, Jo and Gordon are leading the way in their individual sports. They are also a huge inspiration to anyone with a spinal cord injury who is keen to take up sport. For the three to be honoured with MBE's after winning gold medals in Brazil shows what can still be achieved after an injury. If anyone is interested in taking up sport but is unsure where to start, get in touch with us at info@sisonline.org and we will point you in the right direction. Take inspiration from our three Paralympian's, you never know what you can achieve until you give it a go!

Remember to look out for more from Karen Darke in our next edition.