The RFU Injured Players Foundation recently welcomed its very youngest member of the rugby family, Isla-Rose Czernuszka, who weighed in at 6lb 15 oz on June 22.
Her happy mum, Dani, an RFU Injured Players Foundation client since being catastrophically injured playing in the second row for Rams in October 2017, regularly raises funds for the charity with challenges and marathons.
She is inspirational and unstoppable, having trialled for GB Women’s Para Ice Hockey Team while pregnant, she is flying out to the US this month (August) to compete against the hugely experienced USA and Canada teams in Green Bay in a three-day event, which also includes Team World.
A personal trainer, Dani married Peter, her biggest supporter, in July last year. Little Isla-Rose is a sister for Lillie-Rose, aged 12, and ten-year-old Freddie who were mascots for the England rugby team at Twickenham when they played Ireland in March, as well as bridesmaid-of-honour and best boy for the wedding.
Always Support from the IPF
“I met so many people in my spinal unit who had no support at all, whereas I’ve been supported since day one by the IPF and by my rugby club," said Dani. "They have helped me to live an independent life, opened my eyes to a life that still existed when I thought it didn’t. I met other injured players living independent lives and, thanks to the IPF, I’ve seen you can have a future and a career and even continue playing sport at a high level.
“They helped me to buy a house, with adaptations. I now have a home lift up to my bedroom upstairs and while I was pregnant, they funded work at home, including a sliding door into the baby’s nursery. They were there throughout my pregnancy if I needed them and the maternity unit at Reading’s Royal Berkshire Hospital were amazing.“
Still Chasing Her Dreams
Dani has never let being a wheelchair user stop her ambitions, she has been with other wheelchair users on the ocean waves around Antigua with the Jubilee Sailing Trust. She and Pete spent a weekend with the IPF at the Royal British Legion Battle Back Centre and the group she was there with often get together in Twickenham’s specially adapted IPF hospitality box to watch England matches. Completing the London Marathon to fundraise for the IPF was yet another achievement.
.Activities provided by the IPF says Dani “Make you realise that you can do things you never believed were possible when you were first injured.”
With a mother like Dani, little Isla-Rose, as well as Lillie-Rose and Freddie, will always know that whatever the challenges you can achieve your ambitions.
If you would like to help ensure that the IPF’s fantastic work continues to support players like Dani or to know more, please visit www.rfuipf.org.uk
