Jackson had mountain to climb – and did it!
WHEN Ed Jackson was told he may never walk again after breaking his neck diving into a swimming pool in April 2017, he faced an immediate series of giant obstacles to overcome.
Less than 18 months later, Jackson has walked down the aisle to marry Lois, completed his wedding dance in a pair of swimming trunks, and climbed Mount Snowdon.
Now he is takings things up a notch. The former London Welsh, Wasps and Dragons forward is continuing his inspirational charity work by taking on Mont Buet in France at the start of September before embarking on a similarly gruelling trek in Nepal a month later.
“I got married this summer which was a challenge in itself, but a great one. We got married in Italy and it was 35 degrees on the day,” Jackson, 29, told TRP. “My temperature regulation is a bit funny now after my accident, so I managed to sweat through about three different outfits and my wedding suit in the first hour. I actually did my first dance in a pair of swimming shorts which was quite amusing.
“Restart Rugby are the charity who have been supest porting me through my recovery and I’m trying to raise money for them with all the challenges I’m doing.
“Snowdon was the first one, now we’re going to Buet which is three times higher than Snowdon. “After that I’m off to Nepal in October to do some work with a charity called Never- who, in conjunction with Restart, are looking to build a spinal unit in Nepal. It’s exciting, I’m probably busier now than when I was playing!”
Jackson’s recovery has been remarkable and he remains determined to pay back every penny Restart gave to him in support by undertaking a series of fundraising events.
He has raised more than £34,000 and his attitude remains of huge inspiration to the rugby fraternity. “Everyone has their own challenges in life and you have to try to deal with them,” Jackson said. “They can be big or small, but what really matters is how big they are in your head.
“You can’t change what happens to you, you just have to adapt, and that’s what I’ve tried to do. I’d go as far to say
“I’m happier now than I was before my accident. I feel like I’m doing something tangible which is making a difference to other people.”