By Derek Schlennstedt
When Kathryn Kurcos fell off a horse, leaving her paralysed and with severe brain injuries she was told she would never walk again.
But after countless hours of recovery and rehabilitation, this inspiring Ferntree Gully woman has found the strength to turn her life around and begin to walk again.
Although not a natural runner, running soon became her claim to sanity, and she now uses it as an outlet and platform to achieve the impossible.
This year she takes part in the Melbourne Marathon.
“It’s really my claim to sanity and something I really want to hang onto,” she told the Mail
“My real passion was with the horses and I lost the involvement with them after the accident, so I found running as a way to put my mind at ease and keep healthy.”
A promising amateur jockey, Ms Kurcos suffered a fall at Healesville Race Course in 1995 that ended her career.
I worked with racehorses full-time and rode as an amateur – that was really my hobby and passion.
“It was just a normal Saturday meeting at Healesville and there was a fall,” she said.“I ended up with head injuries and was put into an induced coma … they said there was a big risk that I wouldn’t walk again and that i definitely wouldn’t ride again.”
But amazingly, Ms Kurcos defied the odds and made an incredible recovery – leaving doctors stunned.
“I don’t like being told what I can’t or shouldn’t do. I went back and rode again, but my balance was a big inhibitor – a horse would sneeze and I’d almost fall off,” she joked.
Though her recovery has been a long and difficult process, Ms Kurcos has now partaken in a number of marathons.
She said the fall brought her a refreshing perspective on life and has helped her to develop a strong mentality and sense of overcoming.
“I’m doing it hard when I do any marathon as I’m not a natural runner but when you finish another one and tick it off, it’s a great feeling of accomplishment.”
“My first run was around City Central and I had to practically drag my right-hand side because it had a deficit from being paralysed down that side.”
“There’s always help out there. Push yourself, because you can do these things and to raise money for a great charity at the same time is a really good inspiration to take part in the Melbourne Marathon.”
The Melbourne Marathon Festival returns to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 13 October, and last year marathon participants raised in excess of $1,300,000 for a number of charities.
