Specialist Lawyers Show How Sport Can Help With Rehabilitation From Injury

The next phase of a campaign to promote the benefits of disability sport in helping people recover from serious injuries begins today with the launch of a series of team sport videos.

The ‘Don’t Quit, Do It’ campaign features a series of videos of people who have used sport to help overcome their injuries including wheelchair basketball and badminton, amputee cycling, rowing and horse-riding. The next phase of videos features Portsmouth Amputee Football Club, Middlesbrough Power Wheelchair Football Club and North East Bulls Wheelchair Rugby Club.

Specialist serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell help people to access rehabilitation programmes to help them make progress in their recoveries so that they can live as independently as possible. There are 9.4m disabled people in the UK but only one in six takes part in sport regularly, and Irwin Mitchell hopes the campaign will also encourage more people to get involved*.

Experts at the law firm find that sport is often a good way to not only help with physical aspects of rehabilitation but can also help inspire people who find themselves coping with disabilities to get involved in new activities and learn to come to terms with their new situation.

The DQDI campaign includes inspirational videos featuring people who are using disability sport to help overcome their injuries with many of them having instructed Irwin Mitchell to help them with their rehabilitation programmes.

Some are now even competing at a high level in disability sport and are representing GB in various competitions with aspirations of winning in the Rio Paralympic games later this year. The campaign also includes a poem voiced by Giles Long MBE who is one of the most successful Paralympic swimmers of our time and a supporter of the campaign.

Expert Opinion

“We’ve seen first-hand the benefits that disability sport can have both physically in their rehabilitation and in boosting the morale of people who may be struggling to come to terms with their injuries.

“Don’t Quit, Do it, is about encouraging and inspiring people get involved in disability sport and to show that there is help and support out there for people who need it. This year is a massive year of sport with the European Championships and both the Olympics and Paralympics in Rio.

“Our research shows that specialist rehabilitation following serious injuries can have a massive positive effect on those involved, helping them to become more independent and often significantly reducing the burden on the NHS and benefits systems.” Stuart Henderson - Partner

Giles Long said: “I’m passionate about inspiring people to get involved in sports no matter what their background or disability. I had to overcome the odds from a young age and I try to encourage people to get over any fears or worries they may have to help make a difference to their lives. The words Don’t Quit, Do It get that message across perfectly and hopefully encourage people to get involved in the campaign and sports.  Team sports are a great way for people with disabilities to realise the potential they have as they get to meet others in a similar situation to themselves and share their experiences. Not everyone can go to the Paralympics, but it’s about each and every person making progress in the way that is best for them.”
 
Irwin Mitchell is also working with double world champion wheelchair racer Hannah Cockroft, MBE, as she goes for gold at the Rio Paralympics. She won two Gold medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games as well as three gold medals at the 2015 IPC World Athletics Championships in Doha.

Hannah, who was left with disabilities after suffering two cardiac arrests shortly after her birth, said: “I’m extremely grateful to Irwin Mitchell for the faith they have shown in me by supporting me in the next stage of my Paralympic career. Partnering with them is more than just sponsorship though as the firm is really committed to working with people who are fighting to overcome their disabilities and I hope I can play a role in helping inspire others.

“Disability sport is currently more popular than ever and hopefully if I keep doing what I’m doing I can be a role model for people who might be struggling to understand what their aims and ambitions should be.”

For more information about the campaign visit the Don't Quit, Do It pages.