Spinal injury youth worker has his sights set on City Marathon

A MOTORCYCLE accident a year ago left a youth worker with a life-changing spinal-cord injury and confined him to a wheelchair.

Despite the massive physical and emotional hurdles, Lee Corcoran (29) has undergone rehab and gym work in an effort to build his body back to where he was prior to the accident.

At the weekend, he took part in the 32km Liffey Descent.

Lee has been involved with Ballyfermot Youth Service (BYS) for the last 15 years, from junior leader to senior leader, and today is involved with the board of management.

Lee took the plunge at the Liffey Descent in a canoe with his BYS colleague Ger O’Reilly.

The pair have been key figures in developing the skatepark in Ballyfermot over the last number of years.

It went better than I thought it would, we only capsized once in 18 miles,” said Lee.

A thumbs up from Lee after the race

“I hadn’t paddled in 10 years, but went down to do training on Tuesday and Friday for a couple of hours and then we just got straight into it on Saturday.”

Lee’s life changed dramatically a year ago after he bought a motorbike and went for a spin near his Clondalkin home.

“I worked as a scaffold foreman and thought I would treat myself for all those years of hard work.

“I took it for a test run and came off the bike around the corner, I was only doing 30km,” recalled Lee.

Friends at BYS rallied to support Lee’s recovery, raising nearly €7,000 in a GoFundMe started by Ger.

Cllr Vincent Jackson (Ind), Chairperson BYS said: “I’ve never seen somebody so positive dealing with the challenge, and I’m sure there are times when it’s hard to be positive about it, but it must be a great source of strength for his parents to see how Lee is dealing with it.”

Lee’s injury left him paralysed from the waist down, but he has got feeling down to the shins and hopes to walk again.

“It’s 50/50, but up to myself.

“I’ve been into the gym and it is about trying to get more motor skills,” said Lee.

Looking ahead, Lee has applied to take part in the Dublin City Marathon in October.

“Dublin City council have plans for wheelchair places so it’s a question of waiting to see if I am accepted.”