Support Ellie Rothwell's Treatment

After a long and difficult six months since Ellie’s injury, we were recently told by doctors that her Degenerative Disc Disease has caused a degree of damage in her spine that cannot be reversed. We were told that realistically, all we are looking at is lifelong pain management. This doesn’t guarantee that Ellie will be able to work again, or what degree of independence she’ll be able to have.

Despite this, we were not, and still are not, willing to give up. Since then, we have sought private care with some of the top spinal specialists in the region, and after extensive consultation they are optimistic about Ells’ chances. However, with their expertise come significant costs that we simply cannot afford. That is why I have decided to run my first Half Marathon in October, to try to raise the funds we need for Ellie’s medical bills. Our full story is below:

Ellie’s Story

Anyone who knows Ellie personally will know that she has struggled with her back for a long time, living with chronic pain due to her Degenerative Disc Disease, which has taken a huge toll on her life. She has always put on a brave face and never really wanted to admit how much she has been struggling, or to express just how difficult it has been.

Everything changed for her in January when she suffered an acute disc prolapse of her L4-5 and complete annular tear. A very frightening paramedic callout at our home in Bristol began a tough period of complete bed boundary, and Ells spent the first portion of this year in excruciating pain and completely reliant on full-time care. Now, in July, she remains unable to stand for longer than a couple of minutes, to leave the house unaided, to work, or to have any real degree of independence. And she relies heavily on an extremely high dose of medications to manage even that (medications that aren’t safe to be on long term, and that make her exhausted and subdued).

Over the past six months, we have waited for NHS referrals and answers. After meeting with a Neurosurgeon at Southmead Hospital, we were told her discs were irreversibly damaged and that surgery is not an option, as it could accelerate further degeneration in the rest of her spine. We were told that what we should aim for was management of her pain, and to adjust our expectations of recovery.

That was a really tough moment for all of us, but none more so than for Ells. Still, we are not willing to give up. With guidance from private doctors and physiotherapists, we have turned to highly specialised care. There are, of course, no guarantees, but leading spinal experts believe there is a real chance Ells could return to living a normal life. It will not be easy, and she will need extensive treatments.

The combination of a targeted spinal epidural, highly specialised physiotherapy, pain and trauma management, and several holistic therapies presents a potential path to a happier, healthier life.

While we are extremely lucky to be working with these specialists, their expertise and the treatments they recommend are extremely expensive. With Ells unable to work, we simply cannot afford the costs.

Bath & Bristol Railway Half Marathon Fundraiser

The past few months have been challenging for everyone, but especially for Ellie, which is why we've decided to take this step. On 12 October 2025, I’ll be running the Bath and Bristol Railway Half Marathon to help raise funds for Ellie’s private treatments, giving her the best possible chance moving forward. This page will act as a landing page for other fundraising efforts that we know friends and family are carrying out.

If anyone would like to join me on the tarmac this Autumn, the sign-up form for October 12th Half Marathon - Wave 3 can be accessed here: https://etchrock.com/challenge/buy-ticket/bath-bristol-railway-races-autumn-2025. This will be my first timed race and I’d love to share the morning with as many of you possible!

Thank you so much for reading. We know how tough times are at the moment, and we understand that many people are not in a position to donate, but that you will still be cheering us on from the sidelines. Please do share this page on your socials. It means more than we can say.

With all my love,
Bill x