Orpington Road Runners has chosen 24-year-old Harry Magee as its fundraising cause for the year, after he suffered a dislocated neck and fractured spine in a fall at his university home in Portsmouth 2023.
The accident has left him paralysed from the shoulders down, unable to move or feel anything below his biceps, and reliant on 24-hour specialist care.
Despite the life-changing injuries, Harry’s strength of character and determination have left a lasting impression on everyone who knows him.
Kim Chance, a long-time member of Orpington Road Runners who is helping coordinate the fundraising efforts, said: “Harry is the most amazing, amazing human being.
“Through all this adversity, he doesn’t complain. He’s just positive. I have to say I’ve never met anyone like him.”
Harry’s father, Peter, is also a well-known figure in the club and has helped organise its popular charity races for years.
When the club voted on who to support for 2025, Kim said the choice was personal and unanimous.
Kim added: “This year, all the members voted for Harry. It was a very easy decision. Everyone knows Pete, and a lot of us know Harry as well.
“He played rugby with my son, and he went to Wilmington Grammar. We’ve watched him grow up.”
Since the accident, Harry has undergone months of rehabilitation and is now set to return to Portsmouth University to begin a master’s in project management.
Kim said: “He’s a very, very smart young man. I tell him he must have a brain the size of a planet.”
The club is now working to raise funds for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle that would allow Harry to regain some level of independence.
The van will need to be large enough to accommodate his chair, vital medical equipment and carers, and will come with ongoing costs.
Kim said: “He can’t do anything for himself. He can’t feed himself, he can’t move, but he can still use his phone by voice.
“There is certainly nothing wrong with his mind. And the fact he still has that attitude, it just blows you away.”
The community has already responded with huge generosity.
A Christmas fancy dress run and raffle raised around £1,200, while a recent event brought in an incredible £17,000 in just one weekend.
On May 15, the club will host “An Evening with Dick Griffin” at the Bromley Borough Liberal Democrats hall, featuring the former Royal Protection Officer to Queen Elizabeth.
In June, runners will take part in the club’s annual 10K at High Elms Country Park, and later in the year, members will travel to Portsmouth to run the Great South Run, a 10-mile race, as part of “Team ORRange” on October 19.
Other events planned include wine tastings, quiz nights, music fundraisers and a high-profile treadmill challenge outside Tesco in Orpington, possibly with Harry in attendance depending on his health.
Kim said: “We don’t want to put him in a vulnerable position but he’s up for anything. He always says, ‘Yeah, you can do whatever with me.’
“He just wants to live life and advocate for others going through spinal injuries too.”
Harry grew up in Orpington and still visits regularly to see his family. Friends say his humour and resilience remain completely intact.
Kim said: “When you meet him, you walk away smiling. And you think, how is that possible?
“He’s stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, and yet you come away feeling uplifted. That’s just the kind of person he is.”
The club is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, a milestone it hopes will bring added attention to their cause.
Kim said: “It’s a really big year for us anyway, and we wanted to do something that matters.
“We’re always keen for new members and to support the local community. But this is close to home.”
Orpington Road Runners is a long-established and welcoming running club based in Orpington. Founded 40 years ago, the club now has around 400 members and caters to runners of all levels, from complete beginners to experienced athletes.
The club meets every Tuesday evening for a group run and also hosts a variety of other sessions, including road and trail runs throughout the week.
Members benefit from a supportive community and access to routes they may not have discovered on their own.
Kim said: “We’re always keen for new members. It’s such a large, old kind of group of us now, and it’s grown so much.”
As well as focusing on running, the club has a strong tradition of supporting good causes.
Each year, members vote at the AGM to select a charity or individual to fundraise for. Previous causes have included the Chris Aked Foundation and St Christopher’s Hospice.
To support Harry or make a donation, visit the club’s fundraising page.
Members of a running club in Orpington are leading a powerful fundraising campaign to support a young man left paralysed after a devastating fall on New Year’s Eve.
Orpington Road Runners has chosen 24-year-old Harry Magee as its fundraising cause for the year, after he suffered a dislocated neck and fractured spine in a fall at his university home in Portsmouth 2023.
The accident has left him paralysed from the shoulders down, unable to move or feel anything below his biceps, and reliant on 24-hour specialist care.
Despite the life-changing injuries, Harry’s strength of character and determination have left a lasting impression on everyone who knows him.
Kim Chance, a long-time member of Orpington Road Runners who is helping coordinate the fundraising efforts, said: “Harry is the most amazing, amazing human being.
“Through all this adversity, he doesn’t complain. He’s just positive. I have to say I’ve never met anyone like him.”
Harry’s father, Peter, is also a well-known figure in the club and has helped organise its popular charity races for years.
When the club voted on who to support for 2025, Kim said the choice was personal and unanimous.
Kim added: “This year, all the members voted for Harry. It was a very easy decision. Everyone knows Pete, and a lot of us know Harry as well.
“He played rugby with my son, and he went to Wilmington Grammar. We’ve watched him grow up.”
Since the accident, Harry has undergone months of rehabilitation and is now set to return to Portsmouth University to begin a master’s in project management.
Kim said: “He’s a very, very smart young man. I tell him he must have a brain the size of a planet.”
The club is now working to raise funds for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle that would allow Harry to regain some level of independence.
The van will need to be large enough to accommodate his chair, vital medical equipment and carers, and will come with ongoing costs.
Kim said: “He can’t do anything for himself. He can’t feed himself, he can’t move, but he can still use his phone by voice.
“There is certainly nothing wrong with his mind. And the fact he still has that attitude, it just blows you away.”
The community has already responded with huge generosity.
A Christmas fancy dress run and raffle raised around £1,200, while a recent event brought in an incredible £17,000 in just one weekend.
On May 15, the club will host “An Evening with Dick Griffin” at the Bromley Borough Liberal Democrats hall, featuring the former Royal Protection Officer to Queen Elizabeth.
In June, runners will take part in the club’s annual 10K at High Elms Country Park, and later in the year, members will travel to Portsmouth to run the Great South Run, a 10-mile race, as part of “Team ORRange” on October 19.
Other events planned include wine tastings, quiz nights, music fundraisers and a high-profile treadmill challenge outside Tesco in Orpington, possibly with Harry in attendance depending on his health.
Kim said: “We don’t want to put him in a vulnerable position but he’s up for anything. He always says, ‘Yeah, you can do whatever with me.’
“He just wants to live life and advocate for others going through spinal injuries too.”
Harry grew up in Orpington and still visits regularly to see his family. Friends say his humour and resilience remain completely intact.
Kim said: “When you meet him, you walk away smiling. And you think, how is that possible?
“He’s stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, and yet you come away feeling uplifted. That’s just the kind of person he is.”
The club is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, a milestone it hopes will bring added attention to their cause.
Kim said: “It’s a really big year for us anyway, and we wanted to do something that matters.
“We’re always keen for new members and to support the local community. But this is close to home.”
Orpington Road Runners is a long-established and welcoming running club based in Orpington. Founded 40 years ago, the club now has around 400 members and caters to runners of all levels, from complete beginners to experienced athletes.
The club meets every Tuesday evening for a group run and also hosts a variety of other sessions, including road and trail runs throughout the week.
Members benefit from a supportive community and access to routes they may not have discovered on their own.
Kim said: “We’re always keen for new members. It’s such a large, old kind of group of us now, and it’s grown so much.”
As well as focusing on running, the club has a strong tradition of supporting good causes.
Each year, members vote at the AGM to select a charity or individual to fundraise for. Previous causes have included the Chris Aked Foundation and St Christopher’s Hospice.
To support Harry or make a donation, visit the club’s fundraising page.
