We are family - Emma and Katie's story

Determination runs in the family: 14 years after Emma Neild sustained a spinal cord injury in a rollercoaster accident, her sister, novice runner Katie Neild took on an impressive challenge to raise money for a cause close to both their hearts.

Half marathon fatigue began kicking in for SIA fundraiser Katie Neild right around the third lap of Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside. She’d been digging deep in this, her first ever half marathon – more impressive still, her first ever running race!

 

Inching closer to her family who were supporting on the sidelines her younger sister Emma, 27, held up the sign she’d made. ‘Proud of you Katie,’ it read – the letters decorated with Katie’s favourite Percy Pig sweeties.

Katie smashed the race, thundering over the finish line in 2hrs and 32 minutes and having raised over £1,400 for SIA. So, what compelled her to keep going during those tough final laps of the race back in August? And what brought her to the start line of a 13.1-mile race in the first place?

Wanting to do a race before she turned 30 was a contender. Mostly though, she took the miles on to raise money for SIA at sister Emma’s request.

Fourteen years ago, in April 2011, the sisters were on a family day out at an amusement park when Emma sustained an incomplete spinal cord injury while riding a rollercoaster.

Emma was just 13 and paralysed from the neck down. She spent six months in Alder Hey hospital, followed by six weeks at Oswestry Spinal Centre.

“It was just horrific,” remembers Katie, “Everything was really uncertain. We didn’t know the long-term effects and how life would be once Emma was out of hospital.

“Our parents were really strong and supportive and kept us together as a family. It was life-changing for all of us. We knew how lucky she was to be alive and still with us and that helped put things in perspective.”

For Emma, adapting to life in a wheelchair took some getting used to but her overwhelming memories from the time are of her family’s positivity which helped keep her focused and determined.

“I’m quite a positive person and family were on it assuring me I’d recover and that they’d look at everything to help me. I didn’t think too far ahead,” says Emma. “Getting home was a big thing for me. At the time my dad, Colin, was working shifts. My mum, Sandra, gave up work to care for me. Katie was in her last year of school at the time and that was quite hectic, so Nan and Grandad helped out.

“I was the first person in a wheelchair at school. It wasn’t at all accessible – no ramps or lifts – it was a bit of a nightmare to be honest. But everyone was nice.”

After finishing at school, Emma attended college planning to pursue accountancy. At the same time, Emma and her family were going through legal proceedings against the amusement park where she’d had her accident. The more she met with her legal team, the idea of what she wanted to do for a job began coming into sharp focus.

“I realised how life changing and inspiring being a personal injury solicitor could be. To be able to fight for compensation to allow clients to get the rehab and equipment they deserve is rewarding. I knew from my own personal experience how invaluable that was and how important it can be to help recovery.”

“It’s stressful going through the litigation process. The team were always calm and really friendly, making us feel comfortable and supported. I thought: ‘This is what I want to do, I want to help others as I can empathise with that they are going through.”

Emma went on to study law at university and for the past three years, has worked as a paralegal for the solicitor’s firm HCC, one of SIA’s trusted legal partners, as part of their major trauma serious injury team. She hopes to qualify as a solicitor and is determinedly working her way towards that goal.

Emma has worked hard to live a life of her choosing and whether it’s horse riding or going on holiday with Katie, she always prefers to be on the go.

“I love horse riding, even though I’ve fallen off twice,” she says, “It doesn’t put me off. I love socialising, shopping, going to the races. I still do physio three times a week before work. I don’t work towards goals; I always just try to be the best I can. I see little improvements all the time and I know how good getting stronger makes me feel.”

There are rich seams of determination and positivity running through the fabric of this family, a belief that anything can be overcome through graft and the right attitude. Plus, Emma and Katie are best friends which also helps.

“She’s my left arm. Everyone says we’re like twins. We have a really close bond and do everything together,” says Emma.

Katie adds: “What Emma’s been through has made us stronger – and closer. It makes you understand that life’s about making memories and doing things that make you happy.”

We couldn’t have put it better ourselves. Thank you, Katie and Emma, for raising money for SIA.

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This article was featured in the Winter 2025 issue of FORWARD, the only magazine dedicated to the spinal cord injury community. 
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