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Hi I'm Nikki (AKA-Smiley)

I sustained my spinal injury whilst in hospital the surgeon did it during surgery and did not transfer me to a spinal unit he just kept telling me it was in my head.

At that point i was L5 S1 damaged bladder and bowel and dropped foot and mentally and physically scared.

since then 2024 found SIA who told me to get my new GP to refer me to Stoke Mandeville which i did and the injury level changed to T9 Secondary to L5 S1 incomplete paraplegic. I also have issues with all my discs in my neck.

Since i found SIA i found back-up, i went to Bath August 2025 completely changed my life i became more aware learnt new things and challenged myself more. I found out about equipment, resources, and how to learn to live day to day independently and made friends. I went to Front row fashion show last year and this year i am going to be a model for the fashion show.

I have just come back from the multi activity course and yet again challenged more inner fears emotions and made great lifelong friends and gained more information for me and to share.

i have face so many hard difficult challenges in my life apart from the spinal cord injury i have a lot to offer share and to help people get back laughing again even if it's the tiniest laugh. laughing is a great thing to be able to do. Have a negative and turn it into a positive that's why i am here. To Help others, it's my superpower.

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I am Alistair t10 complete injured skiing 7/2/25 . From the first instant I was the finished article. No prospect of change waist down but unaffected waist up. My challenge has been very much getting my head round all that sci entails. I am 68 and retired which is evidently a blessing and a curse. I have spoken to several sci folk my age who were injured in their teens. They have gone to university, got a degree then a good job. Travelled the world with work. Met their spouse and had a family. I am in awe of their achievements. It’s been difficult enough with the very much simpler challenges I have faced day to day! I have found backup individually and collectively empathetic and so helpful, I am hoping to be able to give something back while acknowledging I am far from the finished article this early in my recovery.

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Hi everyone! 😊 I’m Laura, and I’m really excited to meet you all.

A few years ago, I was involved in a car accident where I sustained an incomplete spinal cord injury at L1. I also fractured my skull and broke my C6 and C7 vertebrae. It’s been a huge journey, and rehabilitation has definitely had its ups and downs, but it’s also introduced me to opportunities and experiences I never imagined I’d have.

One thing I decided quite early on was to say “yes” to as many opportunities as I could. That mindset really helped me rebuild my confidence, get back into the outdoors, and discover what I was still capable of. Since then, I’ve tried loads of adaptive sports and activities, and I absolutely love being active. I’m a competitive wheelchair basketball player, and I also enjoy kayaking, rock climbing, and pretty much any adventure that comes my way!

Before my accident, I was studying midwifery. During my rehabilitation I discovered a real passion for psychology and understanding how people adapt and recover from life-changing events. I’m now in my final year of my Psychology degree, with the hope of becoming a Clinical Psychologist one day.

I also love travelling! Since my injury I’ve been lucky enough to visit several countries, and wheelchair basketball has given me more confidence with travelling. I’ve picked up a few tips around flying, accessible travel, equipment, and transport.

I’m really looking forward to getting to know everyone and hearing your stories. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that everyone’s journey is different, but having people around you who understand can make such a difference. I hope I can offer some encouragement, share a few useful resources and experiences, and hopefully remind people who are newly injured that there are still so many adventures waiting after injury. 😊

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Hello everyone. I am Clair and I am one of the trainers this weekend. I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Head of Psychology for a large Mental Health Trust in South London. I also have a complete T8 spinal cord injury having been injured in 1999. I have been running mentor training for Back Up for over 20 years and was involved with the set up of the service. My doctoral research was into psychological adjustment and growth following spinal cord injury. I work clinically with adults with severe mental health problems using cognitive behavioural therapy. I live in South London with my husband, 14 year old daughter and a small and noisy dog who may insist on making an appearance at some point over the weekend.

Looking forward to working with you all!

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Hi , I'm Nick i have a C3-4 incomplete SCI which happen in 2017 while surfing . I am pritty mobile  , was a gardenner but was unable to continue and am now retired .I volunteer as a driver taking people to hospital appointments . when injured talking to some one with a SCI really helped me .

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Hi , I'm Nick i have a C3-4 incomplete SCI which happen in 2017 while surfing . I am pritty mobile  , was a gardenner but was unable to continue and am now retired .I volunteer as a driver taking people to hospital appointments . when injured talking to some one with a SCI really helped me .

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Hi everyone, I am Louise. (The old one in the picture).

I was injured in 1990 and I am T12 incomplete. I use a power chair due to ongoing shoulder surgeries. I work part time at the Northwest Spinal Injuries unit in Southport.

I am married with 2 grown up children and 5 grandchildren. We have two dogs and I love nothing better than getting out into the countryside with them.

I bake and decorate celebration cakes in my spare time.

I am really looking forward to this training and starting as a volunteer mentor for Back Up.

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Hey everyone, I'm Helen.

I have a C1-5 incomplete SCI which I sustained after a fall while competing at showjumping in 2024. Prior to my accident, horses and sport had been my whole life. I worked in world class sport and was fortunate to be part of the equestrian team in Team GB at the Paris Olympic games. While I will never drive a racing car or ride a horse again, Im getting into model car racing, its a lot harder than it looks...honestly! Im determined to be able to beat my husband at some point, clearly my competitive spirit was not damaged in the accident!

I am very lucky and despite the initial prognosis that I wouldn't walk again or have much hand function, I am walking, sometimes unaided and can use my hands well. My biggest battle has definitely been mentally, accepting the fact that I can't do the things I once did and embracing new challenges. I still coach show jumping and am a testing technician for British Equestrian dope testing horses. Oh and most importantly, am a nanny to my 6 month old grandson!

I'm looking forward to getting involved as a mentor for Back up, who were introduced to me by my rehab team at Oswestry, primarily to encourage, support and listen to people who have similar experiences.

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My name is Olayinka Rukayat Tebun popularly known as Yinka. At 22 years of age, I sustained spinal injury through a car accident in 1998 with a burst compression of T12/L1, bilateral fracture of the femur and other minor injuries.

I am currently a student of MRES leadership and strategy at the University of Greate Manchester. Before now, I have worked as a Human Resource and Admin officer in the public sector for over 2 decades. Since I started my study in the UK last September, I have searched for a part time job where I can support people with spinal injuries. It was during my search that I came across BACK UP and I decided to volunteer due to my passion for the general wellbeing of Persons with spinal injury. Although it has not been hitch -free, I love to inspire Persons with SCI sharing my journey of Education, Career, Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenting.

I am married and a proud mum of two boys. I love to listen to music, dance as well as Cooking.

I am here because I am inspired by the work BACK UP does and I am happy to join the team.

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Hello, im Natalie, happy to be meeting you all.

im 40 years old I was diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome at age 32 in April 2018 after a misdiagnosis and delayed treatment , I had emergency surgery the same day on my L4 L5 and had to learn to walk again with intense physiotherapy and hydrotherapy at a spinal rehabilitation unit, just as I was making progress in October 2018 I was rushed back in and diagnosed with cauda equina again and needed another emergency surgery and had to start again and learn to walk again, I also suffered a spinal fluid leak on my second surgery and was bed bound in hospital for several weeks. At the time of my first surgery I was a full time manager at a clothing retail store I unfortunately lost my job due to my illness/situation. I have an access to higher education level 3 in criminology and psychology ive also completed training with the youth offending team and done mentoring with teens at a youth organisation local to me.

Im a single parent of 1, my daughter is 18 and is just about leave her final year in college , she was a register young carer for me, and is my rock.

In September 2020 I started my own small buisness and its still going now. I have a very small group of close friends and good family, I love animals, especially sharks and meerkats, i have a pet chihuahua and also love horror and enjoy going to horror conventions with my daughter.

Im honoured to be able to take part and give something back and help someone the way back up helped me when I was first diagnosed. Looking forward to meeting you all. Talk soon x

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Hi everyone, I'm Floran!

I work alongside Jacques and Roman as the Family Mentor Coordinator here at Back Up.

I'll be joining you on Saturday afternoon and will be looking after the tech, so wish me luck! I'll do my best to keep things running as smoothly as Jacques always does during the training weekends!

My sister sustained a spinal cord injury five years ago, so through her volunteering and my role here at Back Up, we've both very much caught the Back Up Bug ;)

I'm really looking forward to meeting you all, getting to know you, and spending some time together!

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Hi, I'm Li. I have C4 incomplete SCI along with a host of other things. I spent many years as a very active Police Officer with a keen, competitive sporty lifestyle.

My injury absolutely devastated me, but my mum was my rock, she still is and she also has a SCI suffered when I was 10 years old so I already had a fair understanding being her main carer. I have held various volunteer roles over the years including mentoring for the LGBTQIA community.

After injury i returned to university and gained degrees in Canine behaviour, training and psychology, i regularly do reading with children and nursing home visits with my gang of doggies all of who are qualified Therapy Dogs.

I also enjoy and am part of a musical theatre group where my main role is to sing which i love doing along with attending the theatre, this year i actually planned and returned a trip to the West End to see a musical after years of not believing i could, this was following the completion of the What's Next Course run by Back Up, my confidence has grown and i am living life again.

I am very much looking forward to attending the course with everyone else this weekend.

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I’m Christina Robinson. Delighted to be in this room with you all.

In January 2025 I coughed. That cough caused Cauda Equina Syndrome, emergency spinal surgery, and a surgeon telling me it was unlikely I’d walk again. My brain grabbed one word out of that: possible. Because unlikely means possible. I walked. And that word, and everything I did with it, is a big part of why I’m sat here. (Ok, when I say walked, a drunk toddler does a better job!)

Outside of all that, I’ve run businesses, spoken on stages with some big names, and mentored business owners. I’ve worked alongside hundreds of them over the last five-plus years, helping them stop shrinking themselves and actually back who they are. (My slogan is ‘Show Up, BACK YOU!) So if anyone here is building something, thinking about building something, or just trying to get their feet back under them after everything changed, that’s my world and I’m always happy to be useful.

The way I describe what I do, and who I am is marketing, mindset and mischief.

Marketing is the day job. Mindset is the real work underneath it, because most people’s ceiling isn’t their circumstances, it’s what they believe they’re allowed. And mischief is the bit that keeps me human. I’m direct, I’m warm, I’m occasionally sweary, and I will absolutely say the thing everyone’s thinking and then laugh when I realise I’ve said it out loud. Mischief is what stops any of this getting too worthy. It’s how I keep things light when life has been anything but.

That’s me. Here to share what I’ve got, learn what I need, and back the people in the room.

Cx

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Hi, I'm Vajrin and I'm the other mentor trainer this weekend. Unlike Clare, I've recently joined the mentor training team and am looking forward to this new role. I was injured 6 years ago in NZ, falling from a bike (T4C). I've worked in medical professional support for a decade, trained in coaching and mentoring, mainly with resident (junior) doctors, and now volunteer both as a mentor and trainer with Back Up. I live in Bath with my wife, son Will and Joni the dog. I promise to wash my face before Friday.

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Hello; I'm Roman, and I work alongside Jacques as one of the SCI mentor coordinators.

I have a T7 incomplete SCI as a result of a medical issue 7 years ago and I use a manual wheelchair. My wife tells me that I am a very reluctant walker with frame!

I started of as a volunteer for Back Up before becoming a trained mentor and then became a staff member 3.5 years ago.

I hope you will all enjoy the activities that have been organised and planned for the weekend, and I would like to encourage you all to get fully immersed and involved.

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Hi everyone my name is Jacques. I am one of the SCI Mentoring Coordinators here at Back Up.

I have an L1 injury from a car accident back in 1993.

Prior to working at Back Up I used to be a volunteer. I am a group leader, wheelchair skills trainer and also a mentor although I haven't done it since working at Back Up.

I also met my wife who has a C5/6 complete injury through the Back Up dating agency back in 2009 and we got married in 2011.

I look forward to getting to know you all.