Bromley Man Runs Berlin Marathon After Rugby Broke His Neck

Peter Evans, 49, broke his neck in a rugby tackle in October 2024. On Sunday he finished the Berlin Marathon, raising £1,750 for Spinal Research so far.

Peter Evans from Bromley ran the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, his first marathon, two years after a rugby tackle broke his neck. He ran it for Spinal Research, the charity that funds work on treatments for spinal cord injury, and his fundraising page had taken £1,750 when we checked it on 30 September, past its £1,500 target.

The tackle

Peter, 49, a father of two, was playing for Dartfordians Rugby Club on 17 October 2024 when a high impact tackle left him with a broken neck, according to the charity. He describes it himself:

“I remember picking the ball up and running headfirst into a tackle and the next thing I’m lying on the ground not able to feel my hands or legs. I knew something was badly wrong and it was such a scary moment.”

He was taken to hospital with serious spinal cord injuries.

Peter Evans lying on a hospital bed in a patient gown, with white padding across his forehead and around his face — Peter Evans in hospital after the rugby tackle. Photo: supplied by Spinal Research

Over time he recovered full movement in his arms and legs. The injury has left him with permanent pins and needles down his left side, and Spinal Research says he will need more surgery to have metal plates fitted to stabilise his spine.

“I’ve played rugby since I was a boy and although I’ve had a few injuries and breaks this was such a frightening wake-up call,” he said.

Peter Evans wearing a blue and grey Miami J neck collar under a dark jacket, standing in a red-walled stadium concourse with other people behind him — Peter Evans in a neck collar during his recovery. Photo: supplied by Spinal Research

A former teacher, Peter is now working towards a career as a landscape gardener.

Why Berlin

On his JustGiving page he wrote that the charity is personal to him:

“This is a personal charity to me as nearly 2 years ago I had a spinal rugby injury which could have had a devastating effect on my life. I was a lucky one but suffered irreparably damage but lucky to be able to take on this challenge when others face serious life changing injuries!”

After the race he said:

“I know I’m one of the lucky ones and I really wanted to take on this marathon challenge for all those who have not been so lucky.

“It was really hard but also very emotional at the end and I’m just so grateful that I’m able to walk and run. This is for all those who can’t.”

A hospital meal on a blue tray: sausages, mashed potato and peas, a glass of orange juice and a yoghurt pot, with a hospital bed rail in the foreground — A hospital meal tray, one of the photographs on Peter's fundraising page. Photo: via the Peter Evans JustGiving appeal

The money so far

When we checked his page on 30 September it showed £1,750 raised online from 57 donations, plus £397.50 in Gift Aid, against a target of £1,500. The total may have moved since. Donations go to Spinal Research (registered charity 1151015) through the charity’s Berlin Marathon 2026 #TeamSpinal campaign.

What the charity says

Spinal Research says someone in the UK is paralysed after a spinal cord injury every two hours, and that an estimated 15.4 million people worldwide live with paralysis. It describes itself as the UK’s leading charity funding research into treatments for spinal cord injury, with the aim of curing paralysis, and says function-restoring treatments are now in human trials.

Suzanne Redding, the charity’s Head of Audience and Communications, said:

“After decades of funding the best research and researchers we are now at a point where breakthrough therapies are coming through; where the impossible is becoming possible.

“What we urgently need is the funds to get these treatments to paralysed people who need them. Which is why every pound raised matters so much and why we are so grateful to Peter and all our Berlin Marathon #TeamSpinal runners.”

What it means for you

To sponsor Peter: his page is at justgiving.com/page/peter-evans-3.
To find out about the charity or run for it: see spinal-research.org.
If you play rugby in the borough: Peter’s own words are that he had played since boyhood and still calls the tackle “a frightening wake-up call”. Rugby charity fundraising has passed through the borough this month too: three Bromley clubs were stops on the Offload Challenge ride.