About Us
MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE FUTURE OF Spinal cord injury
Spinal cord injury impacts over 15 million people globally (WHO, 2024). Although the most obvious, mobility barriers are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to challenges facing people with spinal cord injury.
Credit: Spinal Cure Australia
What it doesn’t capture are the misconceptions and negative attitudes towards people with disability that can lead to discrimination and limit life outcomes for people with spinal cord injury.
Spinal cord injury can be physically, socially, and financially challenging and transitioning to life with disability can seem insurmountable. However, support is out there and we can all play our part in creating an inclusive society without barriers. There are cutting-edge medical initiatives and technologies that can have a dramatic impact on millions of people's lives after spinal cord injury. These initiatives come from the numerous research projects that are awaiting funding globally.
The Ben Kende Spinal Research Foundation was established in 2019 in response to Ben's rugby accident. Our mission is to change perceptions around disability and to fund research projects with the goal to one day find a cure for paralysis.
We appreciate your support in making a real difference to change the future of those with spinal cord injury.
Meet The committee
BEN KENDE
Director
Aakriti Batra
Secretary
Simon Reid-Kay
Committee Advisor
Jennifer Bovard
Director
Helen Hancock
Committee Advisor
Rick Adkinson
Committee Advisor
Isabella Kende
Content and Communications Manager
Jonathan Thomson
Committee Advisor
Anson Bailey
Committee Advisor
Meet our ambassadors
Rocky was a famous New South Wales rugby players who suffered a serious rugby injury in 1995. As his name implies, nothing would stop him from going forward. He studied law at Macquarie University, and now helps injured players through Hearts in Union, an Australian charity for injured rugby players. Rocky is happily married with two young children, who he races after in his electric wheelchair.
Rocky Mileto
While representing Queensland in rugby in 1994 Perry suffered such a serious accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Perry has set up a spinal injury research foundation in Australia and is particularly interested in stem cell research for spinal injured that is being conducted in Brisbane. Undaunted by his physical challenges, Perry is a determined and energetic guy who is engaged to a professional swimming champion.
Perry Cross
In 2009, David suffered an accident at the age of 18 when he fell from a balcony in Aberdeen, Hong Kong. David's plans to travel to Scotland the next day to start his University degree were put on hold whilst he focused on navigating life as a quadriplegic. With incredible courage and determination, and a wonderful family, David got back on track with his plans, doing a Bachelors at Sunderland University Hong Kong and therapy trips to the Philippines.
David Wishart
Ivy had been an avid gymnast since 4 years old, until when she was injured during a training session that left her a quadriplegic in 2008. Following a two-year hospital stay, she returned to the community and worked hard on rehabilitation to strengthen her abilities while continuing to attend school. In 2012, Ivy was named as one of the ” Ten Regeneration Warriors”. Upon graduating from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Ivy hopes to devote herself to spinal cord injury research.
Ivy Zhang Wei