Trust PA is a UK registered charity working to help those suffering from paralysis as a result of a

spinal cord injury A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that causes temporary or permanent changes in its function. It is a destructive neurological and pathological state that causes major motor, sensory and autonomic dysfunctions. Symptoms of ...

(SCI), funding research, as well as the work necessary to convert successful research into properly tested and approved treatments that can be freely available in UK NHS hospitals and across the world. Other projects include the Head Up campaign, promoting ways to avoid SCI in rugby, as a result of which the

International Rugby Board World Rugby is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. World Rugby organises the Rugby World Cup every four years, the sport's most recognised and most profitable competition. It also organises a number of other international competit ...

and UK rugby unions now include guidance in their training materials, and the Trust PA Buddy scheme, a volunteering scheme to promote better care for vulnerable hospital patients. Trust PA is run by a voluntary committee and has no paid staff. In its first eight years, Trust PA issued grants totaling over a third of a million pounds. It was established in 2002 in memory of

Cardiff Cardiff (; ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of in and forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area officially known as the City and County of Ca ...

born Paul-André Blundell (known to his friends as P.A.) who, during an away rugby match for

Keynsham Keynsham ( ) is a town and civil parish located on the outskirts of the city of Bristol on the A4 that links the cities of Bristol and Bath, Somerset, Bath in Somerset, England. It had a population of 19,603 at the 2021 Census. It was listed i ...

RFC in September 2001, sustained a SCI leaving him instantly paralysed from the chin down and unable to breathe for himself. Thanks to resuscitation from a medically trained teammate, he survived and was airlifted to hospital. He underwent five months of rehabilitation at a specialist unit at

Salisbury District Hospital Salisbury District Hospital is a large hospital on Odstock Road, Britford, Wiltshire, England, about south of the centre of the city of Salisbury. It is managed by the Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. History The first Odstock Hospital was co ...

, but then unexpectedly died from a

pulmonary embolism Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blockage of an pulmonary artery, artery in the lungs by a substance that has moved from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream (embolism). Symptoms of a PE may include dyspnea, shortness of breath, chest pain ...

in January 2002, aged 26.

Patrons

Mountaineer Sir

Chris Bonington Sir Christian John Storey Bonington, CVO, CBE, DL (born 6 August 1934) is a British mountaineer. His career has included nineteen expeditions to the Himalayas, including four to Mount Everest. Early life and expeditions Bonington's father, ...

is Honorary President, and actors

Ioan Gruffudd Ioan Gruffudd (; ; born 6 October 1973) is a Welsh actor. He is known for his roles in film and television series in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. Gruffudd became known for his portrayal of Harold Lowe in ''Titanic'' ( ...

Matthew Rhys Matthew Rhys Evans ( ; born 8 November 1974) is a Welsh actor. He gained recognition for playing Kevin Walker in the family drama series '' Brothers & Sisters'' (2006–2011) and Philip Jennings in the spy drama series ''The Americans'' (2013 ...

and

Neil Jackson Neil Jackson (born 5 March 1976) is an English actor, singer, musician and writer who has appeared in several television series and films, but is probably best known for his role as Marcus on '' Blade: The Series'' and Sasha on ''Make It or Br ...

are patrons.

References

External links

* {{Official website, http://www.trustpa.com/ Health charities in the United Kingdom Disability organisations based in the United Kingdom Charities based in Wales Organizations established in 2002 Organisations based in Newport, Wales 2002 establishments in the United Kingdom Medical and health organisations based in Wales