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North-east businesswoman broke back in horse-riding accident… Now she’s setting up a charity to help others with “invisible” spinal conditions

Backstrong Trustees at Marcliffe Hotel Aberdeen. Pictured (l to r): Malcolm Wright OBE, Gillian Fowler, Niall Craig
Backstrong Trustees at Marcliffe Hotel Aberdeen. Pictured (l to r): Malcolm Wright OBE, Gillian Fowler, Niall Craig

An Aberdeenshire businesswoman who broke her back in a horse-riding accident has set up a charity to support people with ‘invisible’ spinal conditions.

Gillian Fowler, who lives in Stonehaven, created the BackStrong Trust to provide information and support to those who live with a spinal condition or are adapting to living with a serious back injury but are able to walk.

She launched BackStrong Adventures, which specialises in outdoor adventures and activities, three years ago after successfully reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro as part of a fundraising initiative for this new charity.

Malcolm Wright OBE, chief executive of NHS Grampian, and Niall Craig, Gillian’s consultant orthopaedic spinal surgeon until 2014, have both been appointed to the BackStrong Trust board as trustees.

Ms Fowler’s own experience, following her accident in 2008, which saw her temporarily paralysed and facing a long road back to fitness, prompted her to want to help others in a similar situation.

She said: “With 80% of the population at some point suffering back problems during their lives, and approximately 30million absence days being recorded each year due to this problem, it’s a serious issue.

“After my accident and spinal surgery, I found there was a wealth of information and support available for people who have sadly been paralysed as a result of a traumatic injury, but a huge lack of resources for those like me, who have an ‘invisible’ spinal injury/condition, and live with the resulting chronic pain, yet have mobility albeit with some limitations.

“BackStrong Trust is a small charity, but every penny raised will help us to make a big impact both locally and nationally, including hosting support groups, offering access to trained ‘buddies’ who have gone through a similar experience, organising walks, running awareness campaigns, and offering health breaks.

“Our fundraising partner, BackStrong Adventures, will also assist with fundraising, as proceeds from various UK and overseas trips will be donated to the Trust.”

Her former surgeon, Mr Craig, spends most of his working life treating people suffering from significant back pain and spinal injuries and believes there is a need for better information to be made available.

He added: “It can be a lonely, painful and very scary place to be suddenly stuck in hospital, often on bed rest for some time.

“Although we explain the situation and treatment plan to people, we often don’t have the time to just sit down and talk to allay their fears fully.

“I was pleased to become a trustee and improve awareness of the problems facing people with spinal injuries. Just because the injury hasn’t paralysed you doesn’t mean you don’t face a long, painful and often frightening recovery.”

NHS Grampian’s Chief Executive Malcolm Wright said: “My work in the health service has given me an in-depth understanding of how important information and support is in helping people take positive steps to improve their health and lives.

“I am very committed to this, and I see BackStrong Trust as playing an important part in helping the thousands who have such chronic spinal conditions.”

For more information or to discuss fundraising opportunities, visit www.backstrong.org.uk