When Fergus Farrell will take his first steps on a 4,500 kilometre (2,800 mile ) fundraising walk in the United States in August, he will make history. The 46-year-old former rugby player will be the first person with a spinal cord injury to take on this demanding challenge.
It is something that the Co Galway man would never have considered possible in 2018 when he got the shocking news that there was only a five per cent chance he would ever walk again after sustaining a freak back injury at home.
That he would defy the devastating odds stacked against him and go on to not only succeed in walking again, but embrace the significant challenge of walking an average of one and a half marathons (63 kilometres or 39 miles ) a day over 75 consecutive days, coast to coast, from New York to LA, would surely have been beyond his wildest dreams.
However, this is the task that he is setting himself in August to raise €1 million for Spinal Injuries Ireland, the only support and service agency in the country for people with spinal cord injuries. This historic undertaking will see Fergus become the first Irishman to complete such a landmark walk across America in over a century.
His journey is a powerful testament to human resilience and a shining example of one man’s triumph over adversity – a life-changing experience which occurred on October 26, 2018. That day, the well known former rugby player – he represented Connacht at U18, U19, and U20 and was capped for the Irish Youths at U18 level – and then private coach operator, decided to move a heavy, metal work bench in his back yard. Standing at 6’2″ and well built, and having the assistance of his mechanic, meant it should have been an easy task. However, he felt a pinch in his back so dropped the bench and then re-lifted it. That was when he heard a bang which he likens to a gunshot in his back. His spinal cord had almost been severed and the pain was excruciating. He was paralysed from the waist down. Doctors initially gave him a devastating prognosis, only offering a faint prospect of “some movement” returning but little hope of ever walking again.
Through discipline, a steely determination, and a refusal to be beaten, he regained his independence and rebuilt his life. In his book, “Rebuilding a Man” which was published late last year, he talks about how visualisation always helped him achieve his goals both in business and sport. So, it was natural that he should turn to this tool in his hour of greatest need. The practice helped him stay positive and build on small successes.
However, there were dark days when he struggled to keep going, when unrelenting pain, exhaustion, insomnia, and “massive” convulsions dimmed his sense of hope. The ever present thought that he might never walk again was always lurking in the background, too.
Driving yourself
One morning, three weeks after his accident, he experienced the “tiniest flicker of motion” in the big toe of his right foot. “I’d say my heart skipped a beat,” he says. “It was a gain and once you have a gain, it’s very easy to keep driving yourself.”
A year after his accident, he walked 206 kilometers (128 miles ) from his home in Athenry to Dublin to raise funds for the National Rehabilitation Hospital where he had been a patient. Now, seven years later, he is embarking on a even more taxing journey in the US. His charity challenge is being generously supported by Crown, a leading supplier of full building envelope solutions [systems forming physical barriers between buildings’ interiors and exteriors].
Fergus, a father of three, two boys and a girl, is excited by the challenge and hopes it will inspire others to rise above their difficulties. “My journey hasn’t been easy, but every step I take in this challenge is a testament to the incredible support I’ve received and the determination within all of us to overcome adversity. This walk is about proving what’s possible, not just for me, but for everyone living with a spinal cord injury. It’s about raising vital funds for Spinal Injuries Ireland (SII ) and showing that a spinal injury doesn’t define a life; it can open new paths of possibility. I hope my walk inspires people to look beyond perceived limitations, just as I’ve learned to do since my injury.”
He wrote about his intention to walk across America in his book and began to plan the initiative with SII in January. He got his right hip replaced in March and after his recovery, started training for the challenge. “Four weeks after the operation, I was doing a good bit of mileage – walking along the Wild Atlantic Way. Six hours walking a day is nothing to me now.
“My biggest concern for the fundraising walk is the exhaustion and getting blisters on my feet. The heat will probably hit me more than anything else, in New York, for instance, the temperature will be in the mid 30s. The route at the start will be quite hilly and it will be very warm, then it will be extremely flat walking. One road is 186 miles long without a bend. There are no houses or farmyards [visible], they are all located a mile off the road. That walking will be easy on the legs but not so easy on the head [emotionally]. Walking in the Rocky Mountains will be tougher but visually it will be very impactful. The most important thing on the walk will be getting sufficient recovery time, nutrition, sleep, and hydration. I’m 101kg now but plan to be below 95 when I go there. A support vehicle will travel three or four hours ahead of me to ensure everything is organised.”
The Irish Consulate in New York is very supportive of his venture and is organising a dinner for his team before the walk. The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation – which was set up after Christopher, the US actor famous for playing Superman, was paralysed from the neck down after a horse riding accident in 1995 and which is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury – is also supporting Fergus’ efforts to fundraise and heighten awareness about the condition.
Fergus, who works as a motivational speaker (he says he is really passionate about this and gave a talk in Belfast last week and is travelling to Scotland and Finland this week to speak to companies about resilience ), says he will not be trying to break any records, just achieve his goal and enjoy the experience. “I will try to start at 7am each day and walk for a few hours, then stop walking for the heat from 1pm to 3pm. My plan is to get the bulk of the walking done before noon.”
Hope and resilience
Fiona Bolger, the chief executive of Spinal Injuries Ireland, says Fergus’ “extraordinary” challenge is not just a “physical feat but a story full of hope and resilience” that will resonate with many.
“The funds raised through ‘Fergus Walks’ are crucial for Spinal Injuries Ireland to continue providing essential support services, education, and advocacy for those affected by spinal cord injuries. We hope it will foster a deeper understanding of the incredible potential within our community. This campaign will shine a much-needed light on the realities of living with this injury. We are so proud to stand with Fergus as he prepares for his journey.”
He has been on a long journey since he was 39-years-old and learned that his spinal cord was hanging on by a thread after the freak accident that took place in his own back yard. His first thought then was that he would never be able to walk his daughter down the aisle when she grew up. The fear of never being able to play soccer with his sons haunted him, too. Much soul-searching followed as he looked back on his life and realised that he needed to make some changes in the future.
What lessons did he learn from his accident? “That asking for help is the bravest, smartest, and strongest thing a person can do,” he answers without hesitation. “It can be the hardest thing to do, it took me five to six years to be able to do it. There is a stigma and a sense of embarrassment, particularly for men, associated with looking for help, that it’s not a manly thing to do. But the opposite is true. Ultimately, when you ask for help you are putting up your hand and saying you want to be a better person, and the help will be there.”
He believes male loneliness is a growing concern and says as men get older their social networks diminish. Statistically, men are least likely to confide in anyone that they are feeling lonely or isolated or have traditionally learned not to show their feelings or vulnerability, both of which are important in making new friends. Fergus says he is prone to loneliness and finds staying in hotels particularly hard. He does not have a partner and misses his children greatly when they are not with him. However, his cats and dogs are a huge comfort to him.
He says he will be proud of himself when he completes his landmark walk for charity. “It’s my legacy to Spinal Injuries Ireland and to my kids.” His father, Philip, is going to wave him off in the United States but sadly his mother, Peggy, whom he describes as a “great woman”, passed away in December. He will remember her with great fondness and “honour her memory” as he walks alone along the 2,800 mile route from New York to LA on August 22.
• People are encouraged to support Fergus by following his journey on social media, visiting the official campaign website for updates, embarking on their own walking challenge, nominating friends to do theirs, and donating to Spinal Injuries Ireland. Every contribution will directly impact the lives of people living with spinal cord injuries. Visit the ‘Fergus Walks’ website to find out more and donate to Spinal Injuries Ireland at www.ferguswalks.ie Follow Fergus and his journey on Instagram @iamfergusfarrell and on the Spinal Injuries Ireland Instagram and Facebook pages. The funds raised from ‘Fergus Walks’ will be vital in sustaining critical spinal injury services, such as peer support, counselling, and assistance with navigating daily life post-injury.
• Fergus Farrell’s book “Rebuilding a Man” is available from local bookshops.
