In 1944 the life expectancy for someone who sustained a spinal cord injury (SCI) was just 3 months. No treatment existed and people were left to die.
This situation completely changed because of the founding of spinal cord injury treatment by Professor Sir Ludwig “Poppa” Guttmann
Professor Sir Ludwig “Poppa” Guttmann, whilst honoured during his lifetime, has no permanent tribute to recognise and celebrate his outstanding work and legacy both at his National Spinal injuries Centre (NSIC) and The Paralympic Games, which developed from an archery competition on the grass outside the NSIC for his patients on the opening day of the 1948 London Olympic Games.
This project is to correct this long overdue absence of an acknowledgement of the esteem in which he is held. This will be achieved by establishing the following:
We have commissioned a brilliant sculptor, Jacko, to create a life size bronze statue of “Poppa” to stand outside The NSIC. He is not only a great sculptor but is a "near miss" in Spinal Injury terms having survived a serious parachuting accident. Like most Spinal Cord Injured (SCI) people he had to rethink his career and, having left the army, trained in Florence as a sculptor. www.jackoart.com
Click here to find out more about the statue
A qualified Arts Co-ordinator will be employed and will liaise with visiting artists, university arts departments and art colleges to assist in this education. These contributors will also benefit by understanding the needs and methods of teaching disabled people. It is intended that this will become a permanent and integral part of the rehabilitation of patients at the same time as enjoying their spare time constructively. There is no doubt about the benefits of combining art and healthcare and this will further mirror Poppa’s philosophy and legacy of using sport to create reintegration and self esteem following injury.
Click here to find out more about the Rehabilitation through Arts
A book written by an ex patient and the senior nurse of Poppa's about Poppa and the early days of the NSIC has also been commissioned.
Click here to find out more about the book
The unveiling of the statue will be at The Stoke Mandeville Stadium in June 2012 with a reception and reunion for former and existing NSIC patients and staff as well as a number of special guests. This will form part of the build up to The London Paralympic Games.
The statue will later be permanently sited to honour “Poppa” Guttmann outside his NSIC at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and a small limited edition of busts from the same mould will be available to other spinal injury centres and disability sports organisations throughout the world.
Would you like to be involved in some way such as with publicity, fundraising, skills, by making a donation or if you would just like to be kept informed of the progress of the project and the Trust. If so, please register your interest by clicking here.
We are working alongside Mandeville Legacy - Celebrating Buckinghamshire as the birthplace of the Paralympic movement.