A sporting event with a difference burst into life as would-be sailors, skiers, cyclists and footballers joined in the fun.

It is one of many great projects happening across Glasgow, supported by the Evening Times Glas-goals campaign.

However, this latest sporting event had difference – everyone taking part in Options Week has a spinal cord injury and some will never walk again. ANN FOTHERINGHAM reports...

Karen Watts loved jogging and going to the gym – unaware even the simplest of accidents could leave her paralysed.

The 52-year-old, from Glasgow city centre, had no idea she was suffering from arthritis in her neck, which had narrowed her spinal column.

Her life changed dramatically in February when she was rushed to hospital after falling out of bed.

“It was a silly accident,” she says. “But I couldn’t move my arms or legs. I was taken to the Western, and, suddenly, they were telling me my X-rays were being sent to the Spinal Injuries Unit … now I cannot move my legs or hands and have only slight movement in my arms.

“The doctors were amazed that I had no idea about the arthritis. But I was always active – I went to the gym, and went out running, and had never noticed any pain. So it was a complete shock.

“They said it was an accident waiting to happen.”

Karen went home this week, after six months’ rehabilitation.

She was one of the participants in Options Week at Castle Semple Loch, Renfrewshire, which was run by the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit at the Southern General.

She says: “I went round the loch on a speedboat, which was amazing.

“It’s good to be home now, and my husband Robert, and our children Gemma, 27, and Chris, 29, have been great.

“It’s been really tough on all of us, but I don’t want to sit around watching TV all day, so I have to work out what to do next.”

Claire Lincoln, senior physiotherapist at the unit, which treats patients from all over Scotland, says: “This is our third year of the scheme.

“Options is a charity based within the unit and run by the therapy staff. The aim is to help people recovering from spinal cord injuries by moving their rehabilitation out of the ward, into the community and real life.

“Sport and physical activity is the main part of it, so everyone gets the chance to try out things like sailing, ski-ing, wheelchair basketball, rugby and football – anything they like!”

Claire and the rest of the team at the unit are big supporters of Glas-goals, the Evening Times health and fitness campaign that aims to encourage everyone to lead healthier lifestyles.

“Physical activity is so important for health and wellbeing, and that applies to everyone, whatever age or level of ability,” she explains.

For Mirko Gargano, 29, one of the highlights of Options Week was trying out wheelchair basketball – and he was so good at it, he has been approached about joining a local club.

“They said I was strong and fast, so I might give it a go,” says Mirko, who lives in Shawlands with wife Deborah and 19-month-old daughter Elektra.

Mirko, who is originally from Rome, had surgery to remove an abcess from his spinal cord seven weeks ago.

“I am determined to walk again,” he says, simply. “I want to be able to go back to Italy to see my dad, who is ill. I want to be able to run about with my daughter in the park.

“I am a strong person, and I’m making good progress, so I hope to be able to get home, to drive my car, to do all the things I want to do. I fight for everything, and I will fight for this.”

Farmer Iain Paterson broke his back in an accident in April. “The tractor I was driving crashed over a bridge, dropping 14 feet,” he says. “Only the cabin saved my life.

“I’m lucky to be here – and I mean that. My legs might not work, but I am glad to be here, with my wife and kids, who have been great.”

Iain, 48, lives in Auldhouse, on the outskirts of East Kilbride, with wife Laura, 46, and their children, Rachel, 14, and Stuart, 12.

“I tried out the handbikes during Options Week and it was great, so I might take it up. I loved it all – sailing and ski-ing were fantastic,” says Iain.

He is hoping to get home in six weeks. “Your life changes forever when something like this happens to you. It moves sideways a little bit, and then it moves on again. You just do what you have to do.”

• For more information about Glas-goals, see: www.eveningtimes.co.uk

Glasgow’s big health revolution

Do you want to get involved in Glas-goals? Well, here’s your chance.

Our campaign is aimed at tackling the city’s appalling health record and it is for everyone, regardless of your age or where you live.

The Evening Times has teamed up with a number of partners including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow Life, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Housing Association.

And we’ve been working with other key groups including Marie Curie Cancer Care and Sport Relief to help improve the health of every Glaswegian.

We are targeting a series of health goals, including basic fitness, obesity, diet and smoking.

We can help Glasgow stub out a million cigarettes, run, walk, cycle and swim a million miles and lose hundreds of thousands of pounds in weight.

We intend to raise the profile of the great projects – large and small – already tackling health issues across the city.

And throughout the year, we will be staging fun, informative health and fitness events.

Working together – with our partners, with our communities and with our readers – we can make a better future for Glasgow.

So why not sign up today and be part of the Glas-goals health revolution?

Tell us what your goals are for 2010 by sending an email to glasgoals@heraldandtimes.co.uk

More Glas-goals stories and information