Assagay resident Mark Charlesworth was fit and healthy – a motor sport fan – when he was involved in a freak car accident in 2004. That event left him with broken vertebrae, spinal cord damage and the label ‘quadriplegic’.
On Sunday, 13 May, Mark will climb the arch at Moses Mabhida Stadium – that’s 550 steps. Quite a feat for a man who was classified a quadriplegic just over seven years ago. Depending on how challenging it is on the day and if he can raise more money for charity, he is considering going up twice, a total of 1 100 steps!
“I’m lucky to be incredibly stubborn and have never thought of myself as ‘paralysed’. People all over the world have recovered, so how do you know you won’t be one of them, unless you try?”
In the initial days after the accident, the most basic thing seemed almost impossible. “For me, it was simple – I just had to get on with my life.” Mark checked himself out of rehab after six weeks to focus on an intense recovery programme.
Slowly but surely, he gained movement – each milestone a wonder to the doctors who had seen him after the accident. “I was lucky to be very fit at the time, I was able to go to a good hospital and I had the support of my friends and family.”
Mark continued a busy schedule of physiotherapy and has tried a wide range of therapies, from reiki to acupuncture. He trains regularly at Virgin Active Kingspark and Club Zero at Clifton School and watched as Moses Mabhida Stadium took shape.
“When I first suggested that I would climb the steps over the arch, very few people took me seriously.”
After all, the furthest he’d climbed was 17 steps at the gym “and that nearly killed me”! But Mark wanted the challenge as motivation for his exercise programme, and used his trademark determination to keep himself going.
Mark, who is also a cancer survivor, thought it would be a great idea to use the event to try and raise money for people affected by spinal cord injuries and cancer.
Moses Mabhida Stadium management have offered their support and Mark has been overwhelmed by the response from the general public.
“Seeing how other people come out of accidents like this made me feel so lucky. I’ve heard of people going home in wheelbarrows as they can’t afford wheelchairs; some have no family support, no income. This is my chance to make a real difference.”
The event
On Sunday, 13 May, Mark will climb the arch at Moses Mabhida Stadium that’s 550 steps, possibly twice – that’s 1 100 steps. Quite a feat for a man who was classified a quadriplegic just over seven years ago.
100% of the money raised will go to charity and the team have appealed for volunteers to help with planning, publicity and logistics.
They will be selling each step for a fee and aim to raise as much money as possible for their chosen charities: Highway Hospice, QASA (Quadpara), Rugby Players Fund and VEMA (Shannon Charles, who is a VEMA volunteer, was first on the scene after the accident. “He saved my life,” says Mark)
If you’re able to help – either through sponsorship or by giving your time – give Mark Charlesworth a call on 082 440 4215 or email mark@internationaltrade.co.za. Follow his training schedule on Twitter @onestepbeyondSA.
For more information, visit www.550steps.co.za