London: The Cure Girls Are Back!

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.

Sabrina e Lolly a ParigiLondon 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 _DSC4467of 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. alla nsifWe’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

Cure Girl Lolly visit the new Central London location of Spinal Research

Lolly a SROn September 15th, I was delighted to visit the new Central London location of Spinal Research to see the team and fab new office. They moved just recently all the way from Guilford, Surrey to Moorgate, London and are still in the process of setting in their new location with new members of staff too. I had a chat with Mark and the team about clinical trials, Cure Girls new campaign, fundraising and some ideas on how we can raise the profile of the charity. There are lots of events on the calendar and the Cure Girls will continue to support Spinal Research any way we possibly can. Italian Cure Girl Barbara Bucci is about to start a fundraising challenge for Spinal Research- a virtual cycle! It’s imperative that we support Spinal Research’s vital work that funds the research we so desperately need for a cure for paralysis as it is not government funded. A very big thank you to Mark and the team for taking their valuable time to see me and look forward to the rest of this years Spinal Research & Cure Girls events! Watch this space! #LETSMAKECHRONICSPINALCORDINJURYCURABLE

Cure Girl Lolly.

My visit to Project Walk Orlando

3This year my family and I chose to go to the rehabilitation center “Project Walk “.  I wanted to see what they do and how they are helping get people on their feet again. I have been following Project Walk in the news and on facebook for some time. I was always interested in how they do things. Being a paraplegic I’m eager to learn anything that can help you back to your old self again. I found Project Walk very encouraging. I was stunned watching some of their clients do exercises I believed that we would never be able to do again and from someone who talks a lot(understatement my husband would say) I was absolutely gobsmacked at the results they were showing, just fantastic!!
Project walk give every SCI person the hope of recover1 Project Walk Orlandoy. 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.

Results in:

  • Increased central nervous system activity
  • Increased muscle mass
  • Increased circulation
  • Increased sensation in some clients
  • Increased hot and cold in some clients
  • Increased control of life
  • Decreased pressure sores
  • Decreased use of medications
  • Decreased health problems associated with a spinal cord injury
  • Hope

ThereforRebecca - Project Walk Orlandoe 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.

For more details on Project walk go to http://www.projectwalkorlando.org/

Cure Girl Rebecca

Le Cure Girls spingono per la Cura

the cure girls team

Nelle ultime settimane le Cure Girls hanno partecipato ad alcuni importanti eventi sportivi per poter condividere con un pubblico sempre più ampio il nostro messaggio a supporto della ricerca di una cura per la lesione spinale cronica.

Lo scorso 3 maggio abbiamo partecipato alla Wings for Life World Run 2015. Il nostro motto è stato: “Io spingo per la cura – I push for a Cure”.

Le Cure Girls Arcangela, Barbara e Loredana hanno spinto per la Cura in Italia, a Verona, mentre Sabrina faceva la stessa cosa, nello stesso momento in Brasile. Al nostro fianco un vero e proprio Cure Girls Team; un nutrito gruppo di amici e sostenitori che hanno corso con noi e ci hanno supportato.

Clicca per vedere tutte le Foto e i video: “Perché Valeria ha corso la WFL World Run” e “Sabrina e il cure girls team Brasiliano”.

Chi non poteva essere presente a causa delle conseguenze della lesione spinale o perché impegnato in altri eventi di raccolta fondi, come ad esempio la nostra Cure Girl Marina, ha comunque fatto sentire la propria presenza mandandoci un video (Marina con Stefano Pirazzi dalla Granfondofiuggi Valerio Agnoli) o contribuendo a diffondere il messaggio della World Run tramite i social network.

Alla World Run hanno partecipato più di 100000 persone e sono stati raccolti circa 4,2 milioni di euro da destinare alla ricerca.

loredana e marina al giro d_italia_Fotor_Collage

Per continuare la nostra opera di sensibilizzazione e di raccolta fondi per la ricerca di una cura che possa finalmente rendere la paralisi reversibile, le Cure Girls Marina e Loredana sono state inoltre al Giro d’Italia (clicca per vedere tutte le foto) e prossimamente saranno presenti ad altri importanti eventi sportivi come ad esempio la Cycling Marathon che si terrà a Monza il prossimo 27 giugno.

Per supportarci ed essere informati sulle nostre attività, rimanete in contatto con noi tramite il nostro blog e le nostre pagine Facebook, Twitter e Instagram.

Cure Girls

The Cure Girls Push for a Cure

the cure girls team

In the past weeks, the Cure Girls have partecipated to many sport events to share our message in support of research to find a cure for chronic spinal cord injury.

On May 3th, the Cure Girls took part to the Wings for Life World Run 2015.

Our “motto” was : “I push for a cure”.

Arcangela, Barbara and Loredana pushed for a cure in Italy, while Sabrina at the same time was partecipating at the World Run in Brazil. The other Cure Girls supported the World Run promothing the event through friends and social media.

In our support we had a Cure Girls Team; a large group of friends and supporters who have raced with us.

Click to see photos and Videos: “Why Valeria ran WFL World Run”  and “Sabrina and the Brazilian cure girls team”.

More than 100 000 people have partecipated to the World Run and € 4.2 million for spinal cord research were raised.

loredana e marina al giro d_italia_Fotor_Collage

The Cure Girls Marina and Loredana also took part in the Giro d’Italia, the most important italian cycling event known around the world. (Click to see photos)

They will be also present at the Cycling Marathon and in other sporting events during the whole summer to continue raising awareness and funds for research to make chronic spinal cord injury curable.

If you want to support us, follow our blog and our  pages on facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Cure Girls