In 2017, Julian Paterson, a 52-year old commercial diver in the oil and gas sector, shattered his L1 vertebra in a bad fall. He embarked on a long journey of recovery and rehabilitation that involved multiple surgeries. During this time, he became aware of the number of people who remain paraplegic or quadriplegic after an accident, despite the best efforts of medical science.
To assist those individuals who never fully recover from their injury, Julian plans to participate in the 2018 Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon (KAEM), which takes place from October 18 to 28. The marathon is a 250-km, seven-day undertaking. Julian’s inspiration comes from his ability to run again – so he wants to run for those who can’t.
Julian is calling for pledges and donations to this worthy cause. The aim of the QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) is to allow all quadriplegic and paraplegic South Africans to live their lives to the full. It works to coordinate resources, influence policies and support organisations that strive to prevent spinal cord injuries and improve the lives of people with mobility impairments.
QASA provides various projects, programmes and products to create opportunities for quadriplegics and paraplegics to integrate into mainstream society and to be independent. If you wish to support Julian in his epic journey, you can donate via Zapper or EFT.
Reference number: QASA, Nedbank, Pinetown
Account number: 1339473267
Branch Code: 133926
Reference: KAEM [your name].
