Inspire 2026 - Jessica
“For me, [crossing the finish line] will be proof to myself that I can do anything. I think it’s going to feel incredible knowing that I’ve made a difference to so many people. I hope people see and change the way they look at disabled people, that disability doesn’t hold us back. We can do anything when we’re able to do it, because we’re accepted and not seen as a hindrance.”
Woman who struggled to walk now set to complete Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon in her wheelchair after major spinal surgery.
Jessica Ward, from Wickford, Essex once struggled to walk more than a few metres, but this October she will take on the 13.1-mile Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon, just months after major spinal surgery forced her to relearn how to walk, stand and move.
Jessica became a full-time wheelchair user after her health deteriorated due to hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and Nuromuscular Scoliosis, alongside other conditions including leg deformities, hearing loss and heart problems. She will now take on the Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon on Sunday 11th October 2026 for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Charity, the hospital that has supported her complex health needs for the past four to five years.
Jessica became a full-time wheelchair user after her health deteriorated due to hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), alongside other conditions including leg deformities, hearing loss and heart problems.
Just one year ago, Jessica relied on crutches every day and could walk only a few metres before her body gave out.
“It was a really dark time for me, both physically and mentally,” said Jessica. “I was in so much pain every day and would crash at the end of the day. I was very limited in what I could do on crutches and mentally it was draining.”
After months of debating whether to use a wheelchair, Jessica tried an active wheelchair and says it gave her back a freedom she had not felt in years.
“I rolled a couple of metres, turned around and cried. It just felt right and easy, like walking once was,” said Jessica. “I cried so much with happiness. For the first time in years, I wasn’t concentrating on every step. I could just go. I could walk my dog, something I hadn’t done in years. I could go fast, ‘run’ again.”
Her newfound freedom inspired Jessica to enter the London Marathon for Whizz Kidz, before setting her sights on the Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon for RNOH Charity.
But in November 2025, Jessica underwent major spinal surgery at the RNOH and had to put her marathon plans on hold. Her recovery meant relearning almost everything, from getting out of bed and sitting to dressing, using stairs and ramps, and rebuilding the strength needed to push her wheelchair.
“I literally had to learn everything again,” said Jessica. “I lost so much muscle I had built during my recovery that I had to completely start from scratch.”
Just three months after surgery, Jessica completed her first 1km in her wheelchair. Then, less than three months after that, she set out intending to complete around 10 to 15km but kept going, eventually completing 21km in her wheelchair.
“If anyone would have said you would be able to roll a half marathon, I think I would have laughed,” said Jessica. “I got home, pressed pause and cried happy tears. Yes, it probably wasn’t the best time in the world, but I had done a half marathon.”
Now Jessica is preparing to take on the Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon to thank the hospital that has supported her and challenge perceptions of disability. Jessica has seen first-hand how fundraising can support patients at RNOH, from its volunteer buggy service to specialist scanning equipment, and hopes her fundraising can help the hospital continue its work. For Jessica, the race is also about showing that a wheelchair can give people freedom rather than take it away.
“I chose RNOH as my Oysho Royal Parks Half charity for one main reason: to say thank you,” said Jessica. “Thank you to all the staff, the volunteers, the people behind the scenes. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
“The one thing I wish people realised about wheelchair users is that our wheelchairs don’t hold us back. A lot of the time they push us forward, literally and metaphorically,” she said. The thing that holds us back is the world around us. People’s attitudes towards disabled people, inaccessible places and transport, and the lack of knowledge about how much it costs additionally to be disabled.”
Jessica shares her recovery and chronic illness journey on TikTok at @roll_with_jess, hoping her experiences can help others facing similar challenges.
“I don’t see myself as an inspiration. I just see myself as someone who wants to live a normal life,” she said. “I’m not ready to throw in the towel yet. I don’t want my disabilities to take everything away from me, so I keep fighting and pushing back.”
When Jessica crosses the Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon finish line, she expects it to be an emotional moment and hopes her story will encourage others to rethink what they believe disability looks like.
“For me, that moment will be proof to myself that I can do anything. I think it’s going to feel incredible knowing that I’ve made a difference to so many people. I hope people see and change the way they look at disabled people, that disability doesn’t hold us back. We can do anything when we’re able to do it, because we’re accepted and not seen as a hindrance.”
To support Jessica’s fundraising for RNOH Charity, please visit her fundraising page
