A GLASGOW-BASED law firm has raised over £10,000 for spinal cord injury charity Back Up following a successful fundraiser.

The Jackson Boyd Ball was hosted by the company in September and raised an astonishing £10,029 for the charity, funds which will go towards equipping wheelchair users with wheelchair skill training sessions.

Rich Osborn, Back Up’s Outreach and Support Coordinator, said: “It’s fantastic to have the amazing support of Jackson Boyd. Back Up receives no government funding, so we rely entirely on generous donations, fundraisers and supporters to make our work possible.

“Their fundraising efforts will change people’s lives.”

Nearly 50,000 people in the UK are estimated to have been affected by spinal cord injury, with many having to rely on a wheelchair to get around as a result.

Melanie Woods, 25 from Glasgow’s West End, is just one of the thousands who will benefit from the law firm’s generous donation.

Melanie sustained a spinal cord injury following a road collision while cycling in Inverness in January 2018.

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She said: “At first, I didn’t want to know anything about being paralysed. I was so worried that I was going to lose a big part of my life.

“I worked as a PE teacher and I would do every and any sport there was, I was really into being active. When the accident happened, the scary thing for me was not being able to stay active or not being able to do sports anymore.

“It was definitely an important thing for me to get back into.”

Melanie’s first experience with Back Up was participating in one of their sit ski courses in Colorado.

Now, she plans to take part in international wheelchair racing competitions after taking up wheelchair racing last year.

She said: “Initially I met Back Up through the rehab centre in Glasgow, and the representative thee showed me all the courses available and the one that stood out was the sit ski course.

“I went to Colorado for 10 days to learn how to sit ski. I didn’t even think something like that was an option. It definitely sparked my need to get out and do something.”

Melanie attended The Jackson Boyd Ball on behalf of the charity and prasied staff for their fundraising efforts.

“Back Up give you opportunities to do things you didn’t think were possible, and that makes a massive difference. Jackson Boyd’s support will mean other people can have those same opportunities,” said Melanie.

Laura Macdonald, a senior associate from Jackson Boyd, said: “We decided to support Back Up due to the incredible work they do to help transform the lives of people affected by spinal cord injury.”