Hi, my name is Jonathan Ranson and I am a 21 year old student from Clontarf, Dublin. Last summer while in San Diego on a J1 visa, I had a serious accident. I broke my neck after diving into a swimming pool. Due to spinal damage I am paralysed from the chest down and have impaired / limited use of my arms, wrists and fingers.
After two major operations in California I retuned to Dublin, first to the Mater Hospital and then to the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Thanks to the staff at the NRH I have made great progress over the past four months, regaining greater use of my arms and fingers - which I was advised was unlikely. I am determined to push myself to the limit and these improvements are very encouraging. Having just moved back into my family home which is being modified for my needs, my next challenge is to return to Trinity College in September to finish my degree in Business. And will keep fighting to live the fullest life I can. |
What TJR Fundraising is achieving for Jonathan today.Jonathan is determined. Determined and hopeful for the future. Which is why your support is so appreciated.
Doctors have told Jonathan that he is an ideal candidate to benefit from future medical advances in neurosurgery. The nature of his fracture, his youth, his physical strength and his determination are all key factors in his favour. But he has to keep fit, he has to stay well – both physically and mentally - so that he can reach his full potential. Staying well is why purchasing a tilt-table was so important. |
|
The tilt-table is part of Jonathan’s daily physio routine and it plays an important physiological and psychological function.
Staying well is why medical equipment such as the thera-trainer machine – which excises arms and legs; the wheelchair power-assist – which ensures muscle groups don’t deteriorate; and suitable transportation hire are all required. Staying well is why participation in events, such as the Jonathan’s recent visit to Stoke Mandeville to participate in the Inter-Hospital Wheelchair Games, is so significant. Staying well is why intensive physiotherapy programmes, such as the five-day trip to Prime Physio Clinic in Cambridge this summer, is crucial. Staying well is why a weekend away with his pals to Achill this summer is a welcome release. Jonathan is determined. Determined to return to Trinity College this autumn. Determined to have a full and active life. Determined to stay well so that he can avail of future medical developments. Your support enables him to reach his full potential. Thank you. |
News and care update #reachyourfullpotential
Working hard at the award winning specialist at The Prime Physio Physiotherapy/Rehabilitation Centre in Melbourn,Cambridgeshire.
More news of Jonathan's progress will follow. See what Prime Physio can do for Jonathan www.primephysio.co.uk/
|
Fundraising events that have helped
with Jonathan's support and care.
IRFU Charitable Cycle to Cardiff 2015
I felt very proud to be taking part in this challenge. But at the same time was slightly nervous about the amount of cycling to be done.
With the focus on the three charities "IRFU Charitable Trust", "Focus Ireland" and "The Jonathan Ranson Trust", I knew that would drive us on. We started off on Friday at 08:00 from Greystones and cycled our way down to Rosslare, which was approx 135km, to get the boat over, stopping off at Gorey rugby club for lunch.
With the focus on the three charities "IRFU Charitable Trust", "Focus Ireland" and "The Jonathan Ranson Trust", I knew that would drive us on. We started off on Friday at 08:00 from Greystones and cycled our way down to Rosslare, which was approx 135km, to get the boat over, stopping off at Gorey rugby club for lunch.
After the ferry over we arrived in Pembroke at 02:00 and we went straight to our hotel in Llanelli. Early start then Saturday morning as we set off on our way down to Cardiff. We reached the city after approx 100km, at about 16:30. We were delighted, and happy to see the back of our bikes as we went
to watch the Wales v Australia game on the bar TV.
to watch the Wales v Australia game on the bar TV.
We were all exhausted from the cycle but with the adrenaline pumping we had a great night on Saturday.
Then Sunday it was game day and we were all very excited for the match. There was a great atmosphere all around Cardiff and a ridiculous amount of Irish over.
The noise from the Irish in the stadium was unbelievable and what a great result!
Two great results, with 36 amateur cyclists taking on this huge task of cycling from Dublin to Cardiff.
But all for great causes which will benefit a lot of deserving people.
A huge thank you to Donal Mulcahy who came up with the idea and did a mile of work putting it all together.
Thanks a million Donal.
Then Sunday it was game day and we were all very excited for the match. There was a great atmosphere all around Cardiff and a ridiculous amount of Irish over.
The noise from the Irish in the stadium was unbelievable and what a great result!
Two great results, with 36 amateur cyclists taking on this huge task of cycling from Dublin to Cardiff.
But all for great causes which will benefit a lot of deserving people.
A huge thank you to Donal Mulcahy who came up with the idea and did a mile of work putting it all together.
Thanks a million Donal.
Team Jonathan Ranson Golf Tournament
at
Clontarf Golf Club
|
A superb night of music,entertainment and dance with raffles and fundraising supporting TJR was held after the TJR Golf Tournament prize giving at Clontarf Golf Club on 25th Sept.The brilliant Emilie Conway Quintet gave a super live performance. Special thanks to Clontarf Golf Club, David Kelly and the TJR committee for putting this fantastic day together.#thankyouforyoursupport |
The Mark Pollock Trust, Anatomy Dept., TCBE and TCIN are pleased to announce a lecture entitled Potential of painless cutaneous enabling motor control (pcEmc) in recovery of motor function after paralysis by Professor V Reggie Edgerton, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, UCLA - ORGANISED BY
|
It is well known that the sensory input representing the timing and level of loadbearing on the lower limbs is an important source of input to the central nervous system in sustaining postural and locomotor control. The degree to which this source of input is critical, however, continues to be not fully realized. Experiments will be described which demonstrate that after complete paralysis, the return of the experience of bipedal and quadrupedal loadbearing in response to lumbosacral stimulation can be used to restore standing after complete paralysis due to spinal cord injury in humans. Similar results have been achieved in rats, but in addition, full weight-bearing stepping can also be recovered in the presence of spinal epidural stimulation and pharmacological modulation largely involving serotonergic agonists. Finally we have observed that a progressive increase of the level of loadbearing on a daily basis in rats and humans further enhances the level of recovery of standing potential. The mechanisms of the recovery of motor function with these interventions are gradually being formulated from the perspective of how spinal networks can be fine-tuned to facilitate the performance of a wide range of complex motor tasks. This fine tuning can be accomplished using a combination of neuromodulatory interventions, including multiple forms of electrical stimulation, sensory modulation and pharmacological modulation. During the presentation, while the basic physiological concepts underlying the results outlined above are discussed, there will be an emphasis of the bioengineering advances that are needed to perform the critical in vivo experiments in laboratory animals and humans.
|
|
Inter Club Tennis Tournament at Malahide Tennis Club |
Team Jonathan Ranson Golf Classic
June 12th St Annes Golf Club Bull Island Nature Reserve, Dollymount, Dublin 5
St. Anne's Golf Club on June 12th supported TJR on what turned out to be the a superb day of golf and a incredible show of support for Jonathan's care. Team Jonathan Ranson St Anne's Golf Club Charity Day Friday 12th June 2015 Photographs by Leo "George" Devitt
St Annes Charity Day 12th June 2015 “ What a Day “ Firstly a huge thanks to the following, without their hard work, the day would not have happened.
Joe Kelly ( orchestrator ) Diarmuid O`Mordha ( vice Captain ) Jean Kelly ( Vice Lady Captain ) Tadg O`Sullivan ( President )
Mary Mc Greavy ( Lady Captain ) John Smyth ( Captain ) Harry Skelton, Cait Hayes, Kevin Burke, Kate Carty, Niall Carroll
The sun shone and the wind dropped to a gentle breeze! 22 teams competed in the morning session and 27 teams in the afternoon.
140 people sat down to dinner and the bar was full.
Congratulations to the winning teams –
Morning session - Winners 93pts - T O Reilly 2nd 92 pts - L Leonard 3rd 92pts - J Egan - G Healy - C Firzsimons - A Connelan - M Healy - P Brooks - B Cummins -
G Mc Grane - R Ranson - V Corcoran
Afternoon session - Winners 96 pts – D Mc Keon. 2nd 93 pts - P Byrne 3rd 90pts - D Murran - P Noon - G Cooke - R Greenhaugh - N Duffy - P Hanratty - G Corrigan -
L Sweeney - M Byrne - D Walshe
The Raffle was held with lots of prizes and excitement.
1st prize set of golf clubs donated by McGuirks, winner Helen O Donoghue - 2nd prize painting ( Vera Skelton ) donated by Harry Skelton winner John Egan
3rd prize Collage of photographs donated by Leo George Devitt winner Paul O Dwyer. Lots more prizes were won on the night.
A big thank you to all those who donated prizes and sponsored holes.
Joe Kelly ( orchestrator ) Diarmuid O`Mordha ( vice Captain ) Jean Kelly ( Vice Lady Captain ) Tadg O`Sullivan ( President )
Mary Mc Greavy ( Lady Captain ) John Smyth ( Captain ) Harry Skelton, Cait Hayes, Kevin Burke, Kate Carty, Niall Carroll
The sun shone and the wind dropped to a gentle breeze! 22 teams competed in the morning session and 27 teams in the afternoon.
140 people sat down to dinner and the bar was full.
Congratulations to the winning teams –
Morning session - Winners 93pts - T O Reilly 2nd 92 pts - L Leonard 3rd 92pts - J Egan - G Healy - C Firzsimons - A Connelan - M Healy - P Brooks - B Cummins -
G Mc Grane - R Ranson - V Corcoran
Afternoon session - Winners 96 pts – D Mc Keon. 2nd 93 pts - P Byrne 3rd 90pts - D Murran - P Noon - G Cooke - R Greenhaugh - N Duffy - P Hanratty - G Corrigan -
L Sweeney - M Byrne - D Walshe
The Raffle was held with lots of prizes and excitement.
1st prize set of golf clubs donated by McGuirks, winner Helen O Donoghue - 2nd prize painting ( Vera Skelton ) donated by Harry Skelton winner John Egan
3rd prize Collage of photographs donated by Leo George Devitt winner Paul O Dwyer. Lots more prizes were won on the night.
A big thank you to all those who donated prizes and sponsored holes.
These brave warriors survived the grueling Hell and Back on June 13th
for Team Jonathan Ranson - THANK YOU!
Team Jonathan Ranson tackled HELL and BACK at Killruddery House, Southern Cross, Bray, Co. Wicklow.Ireland’s Toughest Mental & Physical Endurance Challenge.
This is the country’s largest and most popular obstacle course run. We convert stunning private farm estates into adventure playgrounds, where participants must complete a 10-15KM trail route crossing rivers and lakes, climbing hills and mountains and crawling through bogs and swamps.
To survive, you must conquer all the elements thrown at you, whether that is the temperamental weather conditions, the gruelling natural environment or the torturous man-made obstacles. #reachyourfullpotential |
|
The TJR Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon Team outside The Mansion House with
Dublin's Lord Mayor Mr. Christy Burke on Dawson Street.
Download Hi Res Version of Team Jonathan Vhi Marathon Photograph below

team_jonathan_ranson-vhi_marathon-photography.jpg | |
File Size: | 4192 kb |
File Type: | jpg |
Over 30,000 women took part in Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin on June 1st 2015.
Here is our winning Team! #thankyouforyoursupport
What happens when you mix a hugely worthwhile cause, a great event and some very determined women? You get nearly 200 women running or walking the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon with TeamJonathanRanson!
Hooray for everyone involved, but especially for Jonathan and his family. It all came together because Jonathan’s Godmother, Una Murphy got the ball rolling early on.
She roped in a few friends whose sons were also friends of Jonathan.Then she kept pressing to get women to register for the marathon itself. “Everybody delivered with special thanks to Oonagh McClean and Joyce Ring and TJR Creative Team were particularly effective!
My job was just to keep things moving forward” said Una in a classic understatement of her role. In the end, nearly 200 women of all ages (from students as young as 16 years to grandmothers as old as 66 years) ran the race with TeamJonathanRanson and ‘got the t-shirt’! “It was such a complete buzz for everyone who took part in the race - despite the rain!” says Una, “a real ‘girls’ event!”
Afterwards everyone headed back to Clontarf Tennis Club for a well earned barbeque (well the burgers, at least, were cooked outside – thanks Des & Frank) and a few drinks were imbibed (sure it’d be rude not to!). We don’t yet know how much was raised from the marathon as the sponsorship is still coming in – but we do know two things … you’ll never meet a more fantastic group of women (huge thanks to everyone who participated) and we’ll be doing it again next year!
Hooray for everyone involved, but especially for Jonathan and his family. It all came together because Jonathan’s Godmother, Una Murphy got the ball rolling early on.
She roped in a few friends whose sons were also friends of Jonathan.Then she kept pressing to get women to register for the marathon itself. “Everybody delivered with special thanks to Oonagh McClean and Joyce Ring and TJR Creative Team were particularly effective!
My job was just to keep things moving forward” said Una in a classic understatement of her role. In the end, nearly 200 women of all ages (from students as young as 16 years to grandmothers as old as 66 years) ran the race with TeamJonathanRanson and ‘got the t-shirt’! “It was such a complete buzz for everyone who took part in the race - despite the rain!” says Una, “a real ‘girls’ event!”
Afterwards everyone headed back to Clontarf Tennis Club for a well earned barbeque (well the burgers, at least, were cooked outside – thanks Des & Frank) and a few drinks were imbibed (sure it’d be rude not to!). We don’t yet know how much was raised from the marathon as the sponsorship is still coming in – but we do know two things … you’ll never meet a more fantastic group of women (huge thanks to everyone who participated) and we’ll be doing it again next year!
|
Would you like to get involved? Do you have a fundraising concept?
Contact TJR teamjonathanranson@gmail.com |
Top of The Class - Belgrove 6th Class Senior Boys
supports Team Jonathan
"I'm Matthew Devine and I am in 6th class in Belgrove Senior Boys.
Jonathan Ranson is my big cousin. I wanted to help him so after talking to Mr Byrne ( my cool school Principal ), I decided to write to the Board of Management of the school to ask permission to have a jersey day to raise funds for Team Jonathan Ranson. After a week of waiting I got my answer!!! And it happened!! June 5th ... TJR Fever hit Belgrove Boys! My friends and I all wore TJR T-shirt. Even my teacher Mr Hayes & Mr Byrne wore a TJR t-shirt on the day!!" Thank You Belgrove N.S, Matthew and Boys! #reachyourfullpotential TJR |
Glitzy, Glamorous and very, very Generous

“Belvedere College is for life” says Tina Boylan, the Chairperson of the Belvedere Ladies Committee, “so when we saw that one of our past pupils needed our support, we wanted to be there for him”. Every year The Belvedere Ladies Committee organise a Ladies Lunch for which the mothers of past and present pupils throw on the glad rags, pop up the hair and get together for a grand chat. “But the afternoon is not just about socialising” said Tina, “there is always a really worthwhile cause that benefits from the money raised through the event”.
This year all the funds raised from the lunch were donated to TeamJonathanRanson – AND WE ARE SO THRILLED and VERY, VERY GRATEFUL to receive it! The lunch itself was a huge success with all the tickets sold out. Amazingly, the raffle held during the lunch raised €10,000 ON ITS OWN (€3000 of which came from auctioning a signed Ireland rugby jersey which was very generously donated by Barbara Keatley)! Not only are these Belvedere Mums thoughtful - they are also very, very generous! “Every one of us was so aware that Jonathan is a young lad like any of our sons” said Tina, “and we wanted to do whatever we could to help. We couldn’t do much, but we could do this!” TeamJonathanRanson are hugely grateful to the Belvedere Ladies Committee for their contribution to the fund and, also, just for being there to support Jonathan & his family. Belvedere College is, without doubt, for life!
This year all the funds raised from the lunch were donated to TeamJonathanRanson – AND WE ARE SO THRILLED and VERY, VERY GRATEFUL to receive it! The lunch itself was a huge success with all the tickets sold out. Amazingly, the raffle held during the lunch raised €10,000 ON ITS OWN (€3000 of which came from auctioning a signed Ireland rugby jersey which was very generously donated by Barbara Keatley)! Not only are these Belvedere Mums thoughtful - they are also very, very generous! “Every one of us was so aware that Jonathan is a young lad like any of our sons” said Tina, “and we wanted to do whatever we could to help. We couldn’t do much, but we could do this!” TeamJonathanRanson are hugely grateful to the Belvedere Ladies Committee for their contribution to the fund and, also, just for being there to support Jonathan & his family. Belvedere College is, without doubt, for life!
This is Team Ireland at the Inter-Spinal Games in Stoke Mandeville in April 2015, finishing second overall , a super result against some strong competition.
|
Team Ireland at the Inter-Spinal Games Stoke Mandeville 2015 - Robert Bradshaw, Edmund Stammers, Jamie Wall, Jonathan Ranson, Ashley Condon, Michelle Murphy, Brian Magner, David Griffin
|
The Panda Cup 2015 was played in aid of Team Jonathan Ranson on 11th April at The Belvedere Sports Grounds, Cabra, Dublin.
Anton Savage Today FM supports Team Jonathan Ranson. Special thanks to Adam Ronayne and all at Belvedere College for supporting Jonathan at this years Panda Cup. Photos at the event can be viewed on our Facebook page.
Team Jonathan Ranson supported The Mark Pollock's Run In The Dark 2014
Unbroken by blindness in 1998, Mark Pollock suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury in 2010 that left him paralysed.
As Mark strives to walk again, his most complex journey is ahead of him - to find a cure for spinal cord injuries for him and the millions of paralysed people around the world. The Life Style Sports Run in the Dark plays a vital role in funding the The Mark Pollock Trust's mission to find and connect people around the world to fast-track a cure for paralysis. As darkness sweeps around the globe on Wednesday, November 12th, thousands will pull on their running shoes and red flashing armbands and head for the door. In over 30 cities worldwide, they will be part of a living light show flowing through the streets like lava. Those same people will be helping to fast-track a cure for paralysis as part of the Life Style Sports Run in the Dark. Join us in one of our 5 official locations, Dublin, Cork, Belfast, London and Manchester, or join with our volunteers in pop-up events in cities worldwide. Support at Mark Pollock .org |
![]() teamjonathanranson - A snap shot film of our first outing as Team Jonathan we supported Mark Pollock's Run In The Dark 2014. All monies raised from this event went to The Mark Pollock Trust.
|
Jonathan Ranson Benefit Walk
St Stephen’s Day on Bull Island 2014
![]() A Big Thank You to the large numbers of people who braced the elements this morning and made this walk a great success.
Special thanks to Fiona O’Hanlon and all who supported and turned out for this special event to help and support Jonathan Ranson’s care and help him reach his full potential. If you could not attend and would like to help, please drop your contribution to Fiona O’Hanlon at 30 Dollymount Avenue. Clontarf GAA Club Well done to all the Cluain Tarbh members, family & cairde who supported the Team Jonathan Ranson walk this morning on what was a pretty soft day. Lots of training tops to dry out! |
Jonathan Ranson Cup December 28th 2014
at Mount Temple Comprehensive School.
|
Correspondence to teamjonathanranson@gmail.com Website content developed by Team Jonathan Ranson
Online donations developed by www.realexpayments.ie
teamjonathanranson© 2015
Online donations developed by www.realexpayments.ie
teamjonathanranson© 2015