Trust PA
Encyclopedia
Trust PA is a UK registered charity working to help those suffering from paralysis as a result of a spinal cord injury
(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
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
born Paul-André Blundell (known to his friends as P.A.) who, during an away rugby match for Keynsham
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 team-mate, he survived and was airlifted to hospital. He underwent 5 months of rehabilitation at a specialist unit at Salisbury District Hospital
, but then unexpectedly died from a pulmonary embolism
in January 2002, aged 26.
is Honorary President, and actors Ioan Gruffudd
and Matthew Rhys
and Neil Jackson
are patrons.
Spinal cord injury
A spinal cord injury refers to any injury to the spinal cord that is caused by trauma instead of disease. Depending on where the spinal cord and nerve roots are damaged, the symptoms can vary widely, from pain to paralysis to incontinence...
(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
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
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
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
born Paul-André Blundell (known to his friends as P.A.) who, during an away rugby match for Keynsham
Keynsham
Keynsham is a town and civil parish between Bristol and Bath in Somerset, south-west England. It has a population of 15,533.It was listed in the Domesday Book as Cainesham, which is believed to mean the home of Saint Keyne....
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 team-mate, he survived and was airlifted to hospital. He underwent 5 months of rehabilitation at a specialist unit at Salisbury District Hospital
Salisbury District Hospital
Salisbury District Hospital is a hospital located in the city of Salisbury in Wiltshire, England.Previously Salisbury Hospitals comprised three units...
, but then unexpectedly died from a pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream . Usually this is due to embolism of a thrombus from the deep veins in the legs, a process termed venous thromboembolism...
in January 2002, aged 26.
Patrons
Mountaineer Sir Chris BoningtonChris Bonington
Sir Christian John Storey Bonington, CVO, CBE, DL is a British mountaineer.His career has included nineteen expeditions to the Himalayas, including four to Mount Everest and the first ascent of the south face of Annapurna.-Early life and expeditions:Educated at University College School in...
is Honorary President, and actors Ioan Gruffudd
Ioan Gruffudd
Ioan Gruffudd is a Welsh actor.Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he started off in Welsh language film productions, then came to international attention as Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in the film Titanic , and as Lt. John Beales in Black Hawk Down...
and Matthew Rhys
Matthew Rhys
Matthew Rhys Evans , known professionally as Matthew Rhys, is a Welsh actor, best known as Kevin Walker on the U.S. ABC family drama Brothers & Sisters, and as Dylan Thomas in The Edge of Love.-Early life:...
and Neil Jackson
Neil Jackson
Neil Jackson is an English actor 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 Break It. His screenwriting credits include the film The Passage directed by Mark Heller and released...
are patrons.