Stephen to row 42,195 metres to raise funds for Rehab

A 34-year-old Bloody Foreland man who has overcome tremendous odds after a horrendous car crash 18 years ago is finalising plans to row the length of a marathon - 42,195 metres - to raise funds for one of the organisations that made it possible.

On September 28, 2005, the then 17-year-old apprentice motor mechanic Stephen Ferry was involved in a two-car collision on the back of Errigal road and suffered horrendous injuries as a result.

“I was in an induced coma for four days and then on life support in Intensive Care Unit for a long time,” he said.

“I received a brain injury so had to start from scratch again and learn all basic skills from learning to walk, using a zimmer frame, how to tie my shoelaces to learning how to brush my teeth again. I was stubborn when it came to recovery. I knew I had to succeed.”

The Rehab facility at St Conal's Hospital in Letterkenny and another outlet in Dublin played a key role in helping him to fight his way back to health.

You can donate on Stephen's GoFundMe page at:  https://gofund.me/ 36c50af8

“The rehab unit is somewhere that is very important to me as I needed it after my accident and I am now training clients who have come to me after being in the rehab unit in Letterkenny or Dublin.”

Since that time Stephen has been involved in several charity fundraisers including a half-marathon on a ski machine for the recent Climb for Charlie motor neurone disease event as well as other challenges for many good causes including the Donegal Hospice.

Stephen who is now a weight management, corrective exercise specialist and strength and conditioning coach at his SF Fitness Studio which is based at the Ozanam Centre in Dunfanaghy, will be accompanied on his marathon by a number of people who train with him and who have recovered from other similar type injuries.

"What my accident taught me was to be grateful for what you have and to always try to better yourself because we are only here for a short time and our health is our wealth,” he said. 

"We can all get caught up thinking poor me, nothing goes right for me and so on but in my opinion, everything happens for a reason and there are positives in every negative, you just have to make the most of the cards you are dealt.”

Stephen will be cheered on at the marathon row by his partner Siobhan and their 18-month-old daughter, Fíadh who he says are his greatest inspiration.

The marathon row takes place on Saturday, January  28 starting at 11am in the Ozanam Centre in Dunfanaghy.