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Phil's story - from cauda equina diagnosis to the 2026 London Marathon
Phil Gutteridge (48) Milton Keynes will be completing the London Marathon for Spinal Injuries Association six years after a spinal cord injury that left him paralysed.
In September 2020, Phil developed cauda equina syndrome, a rare condition that occurs when the nerves in the lower spine are compressed, after picking up a small piece of wood.
As a result of his injury, Phil has lost movement from the waist down and uses a wheelchair.
He said,
“I couldn’t believe that picking up that small piece of wood could cause so much damage. I was extremely low and my mental health suffered greatly. I couldn’t go back to work, I couldn’t coach my kids’ rugby teams anymore, I’d lost my social network. I just couldn’t do the things I could do before.”
Spinal cord injury can happen to anyone at any time and the latest data shows that there are 105,000 people living with spinal cord injury in the UK today, nearly double the number than previously thought.
After receiving support from the Spinal Injuries Association, Phil went on to volunteer for their support line, and then to run a community group in Milton Keynes where people with spinal cord injuries can give and receive vital support.
Phil will be taking on the London Marathon on Sunday 26 April on behalf of the charity, pushing the 26.2 miles around London’s iconic landmarks in his wheelchair.
Phil said,
“Spinal Injuries Association has such a positive impact on mine and my family’s life. I am busier now than I have ever been. I couldn’t have achieved any of this without the support and inspiration from SIA and their members.
“This year I will be taking on my biggest challenge yet, the London Marathon and I am raising funds as part of the Spinal Injuries Association team who are a charity very close to my heart. After sustaining a spinal cord injury myself in 2020 life changed for me and my family overnight and the SIA played a huge part in my physical and mental recovery.”
