Paralysis from the shoulders down hasn’t stopped Marrianne from looking after her body and it hasn’t stopped her from pushing the boundaries of physiotherapy to achieve goals that she was told were unattainable. The positive psychological consequence of these goals has helped Marrianne to enjoy a fun and fulfilled life beyond the devastation that a spinal cord injury can bring. Moreover, for the last 16 years Marrianne has been able to share her approach to dealing with paralysis to help others coming to terms with a life changing injury.

In 2004 an accident left Marrianne with a broken neck. In 2005 the Rooprai Spinal Trust (RST) was founded. In January 2021 a video of Marrianne posted online was viewed over 40 million times. A short video that was the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. Years of trying, failing and trying again. It was titled “If at first you don’t succeed’.

Videos online are very much a by-product of Marrianne’s work with RST. A multi award winning, entirely voluntary charity that provides individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) access to physiotherapy.

“Seeing Marrianne smashing goals is very inspiring. Giving others the opportunity to smash goals of their own, well that’s life changing”. Sharon Hart, Trustee – RST

Marrianne has also helped with a number of research projects including; volunteering for the Miami Project (the world’s most comprehensive research centre for SCI) to participate in their ‘Brain Interface Study’ – a ground-breaking project striving to help individuals regain hand function. Marrianne was the first C4 tetraplegic in the world to walk in the Ekso-Exoskeleton, opening the door for others.