Pounding through the streets of Hull and over the hills of East Riding when training together three times a week, Paul Spence and Neil Hudgell have formed a friendship out of adversity and a passion for helping change lives for the better.
Having completed a series of iconic marathons together in recent years including New York, London, Berlin and Chicago, their sights are now set on the US Boston Marathon next month – a milestone event which will carry extra significance for the pair – and for Paul in particular.
For as they make their way through the cities and towns in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, they will do so on the 10 year anniversary of Paul suffering a life-changing brain haemorrhage, following an unprovoked attack in Hull.
Paul’s struggles to adapt to life with a brain injury – days he describes as the ‘lowest, loneliest and darkest’ of his life – were ultimately the inspiration for him to launch his own charity – P.A.U.L For Brain Recovery.
It led to the opening of a dedicated community-based service which has now helped thousands of people with bespoke support plans – the charity for which Paul and Neil will be raising money for when running in the States.
Friendship forged from first meeting that has led to charity success
Introduced by a friend back in 2014 when Paul was two years into his recovery, Neil was immediately struck by his passion to make a positive difference.
Quickly establishing a friendship, Neil offered his support to ensure P.A.U.L For Brain Recovery was granted official charity status.
He then asked Paul to become an ambassador for Hudgell Solicitors, supporting the firm’s brain injury clients and helping to ensure lawyers and health professionals gain an early understanding of their needs, to be able to offer the best possible support.
Neil also helped Paul take the next big step, establishing his community support centre in 2016, providing tailored support plans, sessions and activities aimed at reducing social isolation, improving health and wellbeing and giving people a sense of belonging at a safe place to meet, where they are supported by others going through a similar experience.
Since opening it has had more than 6,000 visits by people affected by brain injuries and their families, taking on average 15 new referrals each month from people requesting or needing support.
It provides an average of 40 targeted interventions each month, from one-to-one support to family sessions, covering goal setting, education and advocacy.
The charity also funds and facilitates around 250 health and wellbeing activities a year, including gym and yoga sessions, and events at its own allotment.
“We have built a thriving, social community of people who support one another towards living a happy and meaningful life and that would not have been possible without Neil,” Paul said.
“I was determined to make something positive out of what had happened to me and I was passionate about helping other people, but I just didn’t really know how I was going to do it. Neil helped me make sense of all that and was instrumental in the early development of the charity.
“What I didn’t realise at the time was that going forward we’d also develop such a good friendship too.”
Sponsorship for Boston Marathon will raise funds to support those with brain injuries
Having found a shared passion for keeping fit and running over the years, training and taking part in marathons has given Paul and Neil time to strengthen their friendship and discuss future plans, as they cover hundreds of miles across Hull and the East Riding each year.
Neil and Paul both say next month’s Boston Marathon will be extra special.
“We’ve been running marathons together since 2017 and this is a special one given it marks 10 years since Paul’s injury and it provides the chance for us to reflect upon where he has come to, from where he was,” Neil says.
“It seemed fitting to put a focus on that journey and take part in this marathon to directly raise funds for the charity. Paul is a real inspiration and he is a wonderful example of the kind of recovery that can be made, and what people who suffer brain injuries can go on to achieve if they are given the support they need.
“We’ve got a complimentary relationship because he inspires me. When we are training I trail in his wake and I have to lift my performance to keep up with him.
“Paul and our other mate Matt Dass had run plenty of marathons before I did my first. The key is to find a pace and stick to it, take on plenty of liquids and pop the odd painkiller as you go round. I also visualise the first pint at the end.
“Most importantly I’ll be keeping my mind on the fact that we are raising money for Paul’s charity and to help ensure we can continue giving people who find themselves in a similar position to that he did 10 years ago the very best support. We can help more people like Paul.”
Paul added: “As the race is on the actual weekend of the 10 year anniversary of my injury it is going to be a huge day for me personally and a huge milestone for myself in terms of my personal growth and where I have come from.
“To be there with Neil, who has helped me so much on the way, will be special too.”
To support Paul and Neil in raising funds for P.A.U.L For Brain Recovery visit the fundraising page
