DUBLINER Emma Cahill (29) was nominated and elected onto the board of directors of Spinal Injuries Ireland recently following the organisation’s Annual General Meeting.

From Cabinteely, she unfortunately sustained a spinal cord injury at the age of 22 following an equestrian accident overseas.

Cahill said: “I sustained a devastating spinal cord injury in 2010 after an equestrian accident in France and I am delighted to be able to support the organisation that helped me so much. After the injury, I needed to believe in my future and start rebuilding. Spinal Injuries Ireland played an integral part in that once I was back in Ireland, getting me from hospital bed onto the Irish Para-Dressage team. I jumped into their new peer mentoring scheme, having spent a lot of time meeting with new patients on the wards of the National Rehabilitation Hospital over the years – sadly, many of them fellow equestrians who sustained life-altering injuries. It is important to me to support SII, who offer their services free of charge, to anyone who has suffered a spinal cord injury around Ireland.”

SII receives 39% of its funding from the HSE each year but it relies on the public to help them fundraise the remaining 61% of funds annually.

HELPING FAMILIES

Spinal Injuries Ireland provides support to over 2,000 people and their families around Ireland living with the reality of a spinal cord injury (SCI).

As part of her new role on the SII Board of Directors, Cahill will be involved in directing the future of SII by establishing policies, and setting out strategic objectives for the organisation. She will play an important role on the board of directors, particularly because she has first-hand experience of living with a SCI.

She will serve alongside the other nine members of the board of directors, two of which were also newly nominated and elected.

John Twomey, an 11-time paralympian athlete, was elected as the new chairperson of Spinal Injuries Ireland while Brian Dempsey, from DNG Property Group, was also newly elected onto the board of directors.

All three directors were warmly welcomed onto the board of directors by the CEO of SII, Fiona Bolger and the members of the board.