Just as we change, so do the cities. Twenty five years later I returned to the Queen’s land. Since I was last here in my early teens (and I still walked), it was a different city for me.
London was an incredible experience for its receptivity, accessibility and intensity. Receptivity because I could feel, since my arrival, how the bonds have grown stronger even at a distance — Lolly, her brothers Tony and Gary and their mother Maureen welcomed me as part of the family we really are. The accessibility made it possible for us to fulfill the really intense schedule we had between pubs, Paris and occasional tourism.
Our first appointment was meeting the incredible staff at Spinal Research’s office and formalise the donation of £1,500 that was collected at Stand Up for a Cure — a party which me and Lolly, representing the Cure Girls, organized in Brazil. Our next step was a visit to the lab
of Dr. Liz Bradbury at Kings College, where she talked about her fifteen years of research and search for the healing of spinal cord injuries. We got to see incredible things which she uses in her studies. In the afternoon we went to the UCL lab which outlines another line of research, seeking to treat chronic injuries in humans and is funded by the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation. We spoke to Charlotte who is the Finance Manager of NSIF and also the researcher Professor Ying Li and the team.
We’re looking forward for the good news in the years to come! On that day I personally met Loredana, my “cure girl sister” from Italy. Hopefully, soon everyone will know even more about the projects and hopes from seven girls around the world fighting for the healing of spinal cord injuries. May the possibility of truly effective treatments for the spinal cord injury arise from this meeting. I’m still dreaming of watching a Rolling Stones concert in Hyde Park — and for this to happen, both Mick & Co. and Cure Girls will need science walking by our sides. “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes…”
Cure Girl Sabrina


y. Using external stimulation for the nervous system to promote reorganization they are reminding the nerves and muscles how to work again. Muscle spasms are used to build muscle mass and control, using the spasms rather than having to fight against them. They do a lot of weight bearing activities; this in itself promotes healthy bones and fitness. They do not say people will be hopping and skipping out of the door. They do say the best case is a client can regain function and continue to improve as the exercises help a client’s body to remember how to move. Worst case is the client will just leave more independent and healthy. The health benefits are great and this is something that is very much needed for a SCI person. Taken from Project walks site the below are results.
e this kind of therapy benefits all of us. It’s not a cure for paralysis but is a great way to get our bodies fit, possibly improving movement and sensation and all of the above.As a Cure Girl I believe this is something that should be set up around the world, we all could use a Project Walk. I would like to thank Liza, Amanda and Brock for showing my family and I around and I will definitely be back.


