Spinal Network News - December 2017

Java Katzur - Cycles Length
of NZ to Raise Awareness of
SCI
Witnessing the accident that left Gareth Lynch a
tetraplegic on 16 September 2016, had a profound
effect on Java Katzur, who we first discovered after
$2,525 mysteriously appeared in the New Zealand Spinal
Trust’s bank account. Katzur’s empathy prompted her
to cycle the length of New Zealand to raise awareness
of spinal cord injury. “I wanted to make people more
aware of the effect an accident like this has on the
people around the injured person.” It was an incredible
way to do just that, particularly when you consider Java
had hardly ever ridden a bike, and didn’t even own one.
As for Gareth, what helped him get to where he is today?
“Your life will always be what you make of it. If you
continue to set goals and work to achieve those goals,
you will blow yourself away. I mean, the first few weeks
in a chair, I thought I’d never be able to lift my arms. I
thought I’d be that weak forever. Setting little goals and
taking note of when you achieve them, will help you get
back on track.”
Neelusha Jennings - Takes
on Her Biggest Mission
Neelusha Jennings is taking on what she describes as her
biggest challenge yet. The 32-year-old from Lower Hutt,
who has lived with a disability since the age of 16 when
she lost 70 percent of her sight due to a brain injury,
has not let that disability put barriers on her life and has
accomplished many remarkable things. In 2017, she
challenged the way our society view and include people
with a disability and the impact it has. “At the moment,
we’re in a situation where disabled people tend to be
isolated and segregated from wider society. I believe this
is why disabled people are not achieving. They do not
have the same access to grow and develop, which only
comes from having relationships in the community.”
What advice do you have to offer to others who have a
disability and are looking to achieve?
Dreaming is the first step. I’m a big dreamer; I love to
think about cool missions; I love to think about cool
things I’d like to do, and just believing I can do them and
not letting people hold me back. And there will be
“Dreaming is the first step. I’m a big dreamer; I love to
think about cool missions; I love to think about cool
things I’d like to do, and just believing I can do them and
not letting people hold me back.”
naysayers. There have been so many people who tried
to hold me back from so many of the missions I’ve done,
and what that means is, that I could’ve lost a lot of faith
in myself. You have to believe in yourself 100 percent.
Even when you are scared just keep believing.
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