A BROTHER’S passion to see his sibling walk again after becoming a quadriplegic in a freak accident will see him kayak the Murray River, raising money along the way.
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Leaving from Albury’s Noreuil Park yesterday, Sydneysider Martin Gribble felt confident about the 2200km journey that he said would give him a better understanding of the physical challenges his older brother James faces each day.
“Every day is a constant struggle, nothing is easy for him any more,” Mr Gribble, who is living with his brother, said.
In November last year James suffered a severe spinal injury while travelling in Zambia.
Dehydrated after a long run, James sat down to rest, fainted, fell backwards onto hard sand and damaged his spinal column.
Mr Gribble, 27, said his brother had made a slight improvement but had a big challenge ahead of him if he was to ever walk again.
“He can now stand, so we are hoping some day he will be able to walk again,” he said.
James’ friends established The Puffin Magic Foundation with the goal of supporting the former bank worker through his rehabilitation.
He will raise money as he travels, stopping at towns along the way to be a guest speaker at Rotary and Lions clubs.
To make a donation visit puffinmagic.org.au/paddle.