WHO WAS Paul-André Blundell (P-A)

P-A was born and brought up in Whitchurch Cardiff. He was always a dedicated and accomplished sportsman from an early age. His first school was Ysgol Melin Gruffydd along with lifelong friend Matthew Rhys and Ioan Gruffudd and then progressed to Llandaff Cathedral School where he captained the Colts Rugby Team and showed an aptitude for sport in general.

He followed his brother Stephen to Old Swinford Hospital Stourbridge, warmly known as OSH by fellow pupils. Interested in the diversity of available sporting activity he soon excelled at many sports including athletics, rugby, running and golf and followed his grandfather's prowess (mentor) by winning Victor Ludorum a number of times. He travelled to Australia, Canada and the Far East representing his school team in both rugby and cricket. He captained his school rugby side plus county and regional rugby squads also winning a summer School of Excellence at Twickenham the home of English Rugby Union. At the age of 17 was also a member of the Welsh Youth U19`s squad, plus East Wales rugby squads.

While at UWIC - University of Wales College Cardiff he again won recognition including winning Most Promising Newcomer Trophy for Boxing. Due to a shoulder injury he started playing touch rugby winning a place to play as a member of the winning British Champions Touch Rugby side.

After graduating in Cardiff, he moved to Bath and became a very successful and respected Community Specialist with Pharmacia (now Pfizer). He met and befriended Dr Alastair Kerr (pictured above) though his work as a pain control specialist. Alastair introduced PA to Keynsham RFC where PA became a valued centre for the first team, a very popular and active member of the club. He took great delight in coaching the younger players and was known to inspire and motivate his team mates through their training and workouts.

After purchasing his first sports car, through a chance meeting a friend Julian Rainbow introduced him to motor sport. He initially joined Bristol Car Club and later the 750 Motor Club which enthused him to learn as much as he could in the shortest time possible which was typical of PA. He started with sprints and hill-climbs then progressed to race on many of the major UK tracks in his modified Westfield sports/racing car.

In Sept 2001 Paul-André sustained a serious neck injury during a rugby tackle leaving him totally paralysed from the chin down and only able to breathe using a ventilator. Tragically after making good progress in the spinal rehab unit, five and a half months later he died suddenly and unexpectedly from a blood clot, aged just 26yrs. This is unusual as people do not normally die from a spinal cord injury these days so PA was very unlucky due to issues relating to his care.

Always a charismatic and up-beat individual, after the accident, P-A’s bravery and positive attitude were an inspiration to all. He had accepted the challenge to progress positively and make the best of his life and new circumstances. Learning about the current scientific progress inspired him to want to be involved in Clinical Trials to repair paralysis. His motivation was to tour the UK and lecture on spinal cord injury its implications and to share the latest scientific progress and developments.The exciting progress of Professor Raisman and others, in developing ground breaking therapies to repair his condition, gave P-A great hope for the future.

We now work in his memory to help in bringing the trials to a successful conclusion with the view of helping to improve the lives of other spinal cord injured and paralysed men, women and children..

If you can help us, we would very much appreciate the support.