Ramblers take on 32-mile Runswick Bay to Scarborough walk to support friend left paralysed after road accident
Friends of a woman who was left paralysed below the neck in a road accident are taking part in a 32-mile ramble from Runswick Bay to Scarborough, to help raise funds for her.
For 37 years, upper limb specialist physiotherapist Val Jones walked into her NHS physio department to care for her patients.
But now, she can’t.
On June 6 last year, Val was the victim of a serious road traffic collision near Sheffield.
Among other injuries, she sustained damage to her upper spinal cord, leaving her paralysed below the neck, unable even to breathe for herself.
Ten months later, she is still in a spinal injuries unit for continued rehabilitation, where she will remain until her home is adapted for her ongoing needs.
Several of Val’s friends are getting together to walk 32 miles along the Yorkshire coast from Runswick Bay to Scarborough North Bay over three days, from May 1 to 3, on a Reiki Ramble, in order to raise much-needed funds to help her to get the adaptations she needs to be able to go home.
The choice of a coastal walk is important to Val as she has always loved the sea.
“I’ll never be able to walk again, so it’s lovely that you’re going to be my legs, walking by the sea”, she told the ramblers.
“I love the sea, it’s where I feel most at home, and you will be my eyes sending me photos and videos.”
Val has been receiving Reiki, a Japanese energy healing modality which is offered for the client to use it in the way they need and finds it helpful.
“Every time I get Reiki, something new and positive happens” she said.
“I harness that inner power.”
The Reiki Ramble will include mini Reiki sessions offered at each day’s end point – in Whitby, Ravenscar and Scarborough North Bay - in return for a donation to Val’s appeal.
Val estimates that in order for her to return home, she needs in the region of £200,000 to £250,000 to cover essentials such as adapted doorways, ramps, hoists and specialist care.
The walkers hope to be able to help her towards this goal and to give back to someone who worked so long for the NHS and is still helping to train physiotherapists online from her hospital bed.
Visit the Reiki Ramble Blog at https://sharingyorkshire.com/category/ramble/ for more.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/valjones if you’d like to support Val.
Please add RR after your name to show that you’ve donated through the Reiki Ramble.