Stoke Mandeville celebrates Inter Spinal Unit Games

Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the national home of wheelchair sport recently played host to the annual Inter Spinal Unit Games, a weeklong event which welcomed more than 100 disabled people from across the country.

The Inter-Spinal Unit Games are held annually at Stoke Mandeville Stadium and introduce sport and the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle to people who have recently become spinal cord injured.

Despite transport problems caused by the volcanic eruption at Eyjafjallajökull, eleven teams made it to Stoke Mandeville Stadium for WheelPower’s Inter Spinal Unit Games.

For the first time, a team from Headley Court were among this year's 81 participants.

Jo Howard, Senior Physiotherapist at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre described the event as, “a fantastic week, which gives patients the opportunity to discover what sports are available.” Jo continued, “it was an exhausting week and the team returned home tired but happy.”

Supervised by professional coaches and leading wheelchair athletes, the patients get the chance to try out a variety of sports from archery, athletics, fencing and powerlifting.

Ian Seabrook, Business Development Manager at Stoke Mandeville Stadium commented, “It’s an absolute pleasure and privilege for the Stadium to host this worthwhile event at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. The event is always a huge success and a great way for patients to not only enjoy all the different facilities we have to offer, but also meet new people and make new friends!”

The 2010 Award for the best team was presented to Stoke Mandeville, with Salisbury second and Rookwood in third.