Flight of the Emu

Hi, I’m Andrew Regan, and I would love your help to raise as much money as possible to help support the Emus Foundation on April 23. All you need to do is run or walk as far as you can in an hour.

The Emus Foundation’s aim is to raise funds to support injured rugby players, and rugby people and clubs in need across regional communities, helping to improve health outcomes in areas where access to specialist care is limited.

Wednesday, April 23 will be the third anniversary of the worst day of my life. That day in 2022, I broke my neck playing rugby union at Emus’ ground in Orange, Endeavour Oval, resulting in quadriplegia.

I was airlifted to hospital in Sydney and underwent a marathon spinal surgery. Finally, after 10 months of intensive rehabilitation in Sydney, I was able to come home to Orange.

Initially, I was told not to expect a major recovery. But with a lot of luck and persistence, I regained arm and hand movement beyond what was expected and even regained some leg movement too.

The support I’ve had in Orange has been amazing, but access to the specialist support I need is limited.

But, having often sought physio support in Sydney and the Gold Coast, I have progressed to the point where I can walk with assistance.

The next step is walking without assistance. That will require specialist equipment along with more of that luck and persistence.

I have been supported so much by the wider community and I recognise I am in a privileged position in being able to access the help I need. Not everyone is as fortunate, and catastrophic accidents can happen to anyone.

So I am raising money for the Emus Foundation by attempting to walk 100 metres in one hour at Endeavour Oval on the anniversary of my accident. These will be my first steps outside since then.

I’m inviting anyone and everyone to join me either in person at Endeavour Oval or virtually, wherever you happen to be, by walking or running as far as possible in one hour at any point on April 23.

I’ve called this event ‘Flight Of The Emu’ because I have often felt that being a quadriplegic is a bit like being an emu. Everyone else can fly, but the emu can’t. Well, this emu is going to fly.

I will be seeking and announcing corporate sponsors for the event to donate set amounts per 100 metres covered, collectively. So you’ll need to record your distance.

You can do that by joining the Strava Event or another app to track.

If you can, you are also welcome to make donations here on the GoFundMe page at any point, you don’t need to wait until April 23. All proceeds will go to the Emus Foundation.

I also encourage you to follow myself (@drewyreegs) and Emus Rugby Club (@emusrugbyclub) on Instagram for regular updates.

Strava link:

https://strava.app.link/KP2xHI9dURb