Less than 12 months since life-changing surgery, former Ireland international Andrew Patterson, who emerged through Surrey ranks, has taught himself to walk again and completed a monumental 5km walk to raise funds for the Professional Cricketers’ Trust.
The herculean effort was completed in eight hours 43 minutes at Victoria Park in London with friends and family by his side after gruelling rehab led him to achieve his goal.
The superb feat followed Patterson being diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia in 2013, a progressive condition that would eventually leave Andrew set to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair before he was notified of a world-leading operation in America to vastly improve mobility and his quality of life.
Talking to the Professional Cricketers’ Trust in December 2023, Andrew, with the help of daughter Ella, bravely told his story from diagnosis to operation, the long road of learning how to walk again and his 5km goal.
The players’ charity, along with Ella’s fundraising efforts, led the way in making the surgery possible on 26 May 2023 and Andrew soon set himself a physical target whilst also fundraising for the Trust.
The Professional Cricketers’ Trust provides vital support to past and present cricketers in England and Wales and their immediate families when in desperate need.
All PCA members have access to the support, regardless of the length of their careers. As a player, Patterson emerged through the ranks at Surrey and made 23 appearances for their second team, before moving to Sussex where he went on to play First-Class and List A cricket.
The ex-keeper was extremely proud to represent his country 61 times between 1996 and 2002, with his final appearance coming against West Indies A.
More than two decades on from his final appearance for his country, Patterson now feels he has a new lease of life and newfound freedom.
Patterson said: “Completing the 5k is one of the greatest achievements of my life. I am honestly so proud of myself because there were moments when I didn’t think I could do it, but I showed the determination needed and pushed through. It showed me anything is possible.
“It makes me feel really good and there’s no way in the world I would have thought of doing this before having the operation last year.
“With the rehab it was important I had a goal to work towards. Halfway around I thought ‘I really can’t do this’ but actually my daughter said to me ‘get to the next stage, get to the next stage’ and I have to say my wife Sarah, in terms of the support, has been fantastic.
“Kudos big time to the Professional Cricketers’ Trust, for helping me out and getting the operation last year. Without their help and my daughter raising money I wouldn’t have been able to do it and it has been honestly life-changing.”
You can donate to Andrew’s Just Giving link by clicking here.
