With funding and awareness two areas that hold research back, the RST is proud to have donated thousands of pounds to spinal research in the past and we continue to donate regularly. But our interest in research does not stop with financial assistance; Marrianne takes part in projects that can help deliver the answers to help others in a similar position.
Supporting Research
THE MIAMI PROJECT
The Miami Project is the world’s most comprehensive research centre for spinal cord injuries (SCI). It was co-founded in 1985 by internationally recognized SCI expert Barth A Green and three families who had experienced SCI first-hand.
Marrianne Rooprai has supported the project since 2015 by volunteering as research participant in the hand study.
She says: “I won’t pretend to know the scientific ins and outs of the study, but I do know that nobody will work harder than I to help it progress.
Dr Katie Gant, assistant professor at the Project, said: Thanks to Marrianne and countless others, the Miami Project is able to advance therapies that improve the lives of people with spinal cord injuries.”
Marrianne added: “The MP is a place that screams positivity at you the moment you enter the park in front of the building.”
NICHOLLS SPINAL INJURY FOUNDATION
The Nicholls Spinal Injury Association (nsif) is a charity committed to funding research and development into curing spinal cord injury.
It was founded by chef David Nicholls after his 18-year-old son Daniel suffered an injury when he dived into a wave on Bondi Beach and hit a hidden sandbank, paralysing him from the neck down.
The Rooprai Spinal Trust has an ongoing relationship with nsif and continues to give their research project as much support as it can, with regular donations and awareness building.
SPINAL RESEARCH UK
Spinal Research is the UK’s leading charity funding medical research around the world to develop effective treatments for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury.
Every day three people in the UK and Ireland are paralysed following an injury to their spinal cord. With no government funding, Spinal Research rely entirely on the support of the public to raise funds for their work. To date they have funded over 140 research projects.
For over 10 years we have enjoyed working together with Spinal Research on a number of fundraising events and projects.
FES ROWING
Functional electrical stimulation is a procedure that applies small electrical charges to paralysed muscles. FES stimulates the muscle to make its usual movement. Marrianne has benefitted from using FES for many years and was delighted to be invited to Brunel University to help develop an FES rowing system for others to benefit from. Marrianne was the highest injured female to take part in the study.
