
When Mark went down, he immediately knew what had happened. He was playing for Waikato University in 1989 when a tackle put him in a forward roll, the weight of other players on top of him. The force broke his back, leaving him paralysed from the chest down. Typical of Mark, he quickly dusted himself off and got on with things.
He was straight back to study, continuing with business management and adding a law degree as well. For more than two decades he’s run his own event management company and he delights in his work. Mark gets a kick out of championing local businesses, running business awards across Auckland and acting as marketing manager for the Dominion Road Business Association. For a time, he found success in paraplegic basketball and swimming, before medical troubles forced him to take a slower pace. In the mid-90s he joined a paraplegic boating team, taking trips to South America and around islands of Samoa. He’s a keen traveller and enjoys fishing, sailing and scuba diving. The more recent amputation of both legs has been a blow, but Mark is fiercely independent and continually counts his blessings.
Mark is grateful to have assistance from ACC, good friends and a tight family. He says although he’s received practical help from the Rugby Foundation, its real value is much greater than that: belonging to the foundation is like being part of a family. He has special thanks for fellow members Ross Ormsby and Grant Sharman.
Article added: Wednesday 09 August 2023
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