[S3] Ep. 3 - Steven Dowd: Pushing Past Paralysis
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In 2016, Steven Dowd was a 37-year-old weekend warrior cyclist, living and training in London when an accident left him with a devastating spinal cord injury. Facing total paralysis and a bleak prognosis, Steven was motivated by his acceptance into a clinical research trial and a goal to walk by Christmas.
With an exceptional personal will and the support of family and friends, Steven today is not only walking, but cycling, skiing, indoor rowing, and even sculling. We sat down to talk about his journey, finding motivation, and the EnduRow Challenge, a charity event he launched in 2021.
GUESTS
Steven Dowd
stevendowd.com / endurowchallenge.com
linkedin.com/in/stevendowd
IG: @100StevenDowd / @EnduRowChallenge
FB: @100StevenDowd
TWITTER: @100StevenDowd / @EnduRowChallen1
TIME STAMPS
0:00 - Intro
04:00 - What a week in rowing! First time in a 4x and it was with 3 paralympians
10:00 - How rowing came into Steven’s life
16:00 - The people that motivated Steve in his early indoor rowing days
20:00 - Steve’s 200 Day Promise
27:35 - Celebrating rehab mini-wins
29:22 - The two-way street of a support network
32:00 - EnduRow: Everyone. Everywhere. Pulling together.
36:44 - Wings for Life ambassador. Lessons learned year 1 of EnduRow Challenge and planning for the future
40:22 - Micro and macro hubs for EnduRow 2022
43:00 - Development of EnduRow brand / #canva
44:00 - Reframing rowing for a new generation
46:54 - Rapid Fire Q&A
48:37 - Pitch for EnduRow 2022
49:45 - outro
Steven Dowd (back right), with Paralympian Naomi Richards, MBE, Olympian Cath Bishop, and Paralympian Kingsley Ijomah. The rowers went out in a 4x with Marlow Rowing Club coach Bruce Lynn. It was Steven’s first time in a 4x!
[S3] Ep. 3 Mentions
BUSINESSES
BNY Mellon
Wings for Life
Vivo Barefoot
ZoomErgos.com
EVENTS
EnduRow Challenge
Head of the Charles
The Boat Race
Wings for Life World Run
CLUB & SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Boston University
British Rowing / Love Rowing
Cambridge Boat Club
Champions Rowing Club
Community Rowing, Inc.
Disability Sport Wales
GPRF - AMBT Inclusion Fund
Guilford Rowing Club
London Youth Rowing
Marlow Rowing Club
ParaRowing Foundation
Rowing Australia
USRowing
Welsh Rowing
World Rowing
PEOPLE
Arshay Cooper
Ben Prichard
Bruce Lynn
Cath Bishop
David Smith
Justin Cheatle
Kingsley Ijomah
Matt Rostron
Naomi Richards, MBE
Nick Baker
Tom Dyson