A father who was left paralysed following the Manchester Arena attack has taken his first steps since the incident.
Bolton-born football agent Martin Hibbert – who was the closest casualty to the bomb blast to survive – suffered 22 shrapnel wounds and was left paralysed from the waist down when he and his teenage daughter were among the hundreds injured in the terror attack following an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on 22nd May 2017.
But with the power of technology, he has been able to walk for the first time.
Martin has been able to take his first steps since the attack thanks to the help of an exoskeleton – a wearable machine that helps people with spinal cord injuries to move.
He shared touching footage of the remarkable moment with his followers Twitter, with the inspiring caption: “Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come.
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“Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won and all the fears you have overcome.
“Dream. Believe. Achieve.”
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Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won and all the fears you have overcome…
He also spoke to ITV Granada Reports about the impact and significance of the moment, and his decision to share to footage with the public, admitting that: “To be stood up straight was mentally amazing [and] I wanted that video to inspire people.
“Technology is changing on a daily basis, and there are hopefully big changes coming in research for spinal cord injuries.”
Although taking his first steps since the attack is undeniably one of the most important achievements Martin has made, this isn’t the end of his journey, as next June, he is preparing to scale Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for a very worthy cause.
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He is aiming to take a Paralympic torch to the top of Africa’s highest mountain in an epic 10-day expedition, and in doing so, he hopes to raise £1 million for the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA).
Now a wheelchair user, Martin will ride a custom-built handbike for the challenge – which he said he was inspired to do after learning that only one in three people with spinal cord injuries receive treatment at specialist centres.
“I want to turn an appalling act of terror into a force for greater good.” Martin said.
Martin is preparing to scale Mount Kilimanjaro to raise £1 million for Spinal Injuries Association / Credit: SIA / Cloud Force Marketing / Sam Manton
Martin had originally planned to take on the challenge this past September, but it was sadly postponed due to the pandemic, and so he is instead scheduled to set off for Tanzania on 2 June 2022.
He will scale the mission alongside a trustee from SIA, two nurses who helped him recover from his injuries, and his two best mates.
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Since his recovery, Martin has worked with the SIA as a trustee to offer “hope, confidence and practical skills” to other people paralysed by spinal cord injury, and now wants to “give something back” to the charity after they’ve helped him “live a fulfilled life” over the last four years.
“The money raised is my way not just to thank SIA for everything it has done for me but to make sure it can reach the thousands who remain in urgent need,” Martin said.
“Without them, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Martin will ride a custom-built handbike for the challenge / Credit: SIA / Cloud Force Marketing / Sam Manton
Keen to show your support? All donations towards Martin’s target of raising £1 million for the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) can be made via his official GoFundMe page here.
Olly Murs announces Manchester show on huge arena tour – with Blue as support
Daisy Jackson
Olly Murs has just announced details of a huge arena tour, including a stop here in Manchester.
He’ll be playing the city’s biggest arena, the Co-op Live, as part of his 2025 tour.
The news comes fresh off the back of his nationwide tour supporting Take That on their massive This Life on Tour tour.
He’s announced a massive support act for himself too, bringing along British boyband favourites Blue.
Olly Murs first rose to stardom when he placed as runner-up in 2009’s The X Factor competition (though his career has soared past winner Joe McElderry’s).
Since then, he’s released seven solo studio albums, including last year’s Marry Me.
His massive hits include Heart Skips a Beat, Dance With Me Tonight, and Troublemaker, and he’s worked with the likes of Rizzle Kicks, Snoop Dogg, Demi Lovato and Flo Rida.
Olly Murs is now heading back out on the road for an all-singing, all-dancing arena tour.
It will include dates in Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and loads more.
Olly said: “Celebrating 15 unbelievable years doing what I love best will be truly special. But to top it off I’m taking a band with me who I was obsessed with in my college years, BLUE!
“No doubt the pranks and banter will be free-flowing but most importantly it’s going to be a great night for the fans to enjoy, I can’t wait.”
Blue said: “We were really delighted when Olly asked us to join him on his Arena tour next year and can’t wait to get on the road with him in the Spring!
“We are going to have a whole lot of fun and look forward to making him an honorary Blue boy! We’ll be singing the biggest hits and maybe the odd joke here and there – watch out Olly!”
Tickets will go on sale on Friday 13 September at 10am – you can get yours here.
Olly Murs 2025 tour dates in full
24 April – Plymouth, Pavilions
26 April – Brighton, Centre
27 April – Hull, Connexin Live
29 April – Dublin, 3Arena
30 April – Belfast, SSE Arena
2 May – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
3 May – Aberdeen, P&J Live
4 May – Newcastle, Utilita Arena
6 May – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
8 May – Manchester, Co-op Live
9 May – Leeds, First Direct Arena
10 May – Sheffield, Utilita Arena
12 May – Cardiff, Utilita Arena
15 May – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena
16 May – Birmingham, bp pulse LIVE
17 May – London, The O2
Featured image: Mark Hayman
Manchester
Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Lina Stores is set to open its very first restaurant in Manchester early next year, taking its beloved mix of handmade pasta and deli food outside of London for the first time.
80 years after opening for the first time in Soho, Lina Stores is heading north to open a 150-cover restaurant.
Blending coffee shop, delicatessen, restaurant, and bar, the new space will be styled in traditional Lina Stores shades of pastel green hues, warm timber woods, and terrazzo and timber flooring.
You’ll find bespoke marble tables, original vintage Bentwood chairs, dark green booth seating and opaline globe lighting inspired by the original Brewer Street delicatessen.
Diners will be spoilt with an Italian-inspired breakfast menu, featuring dishes like truffle scrambled eggs with toasted sourdough, Greek yoghurt with Italian Macedonia fruit salad, and a selection of breakfast panini.
At lunchtimes and dinner there’ll be antipasti such as ricotta and herb gnudi fritti with Calabrian chilli marmellata, and tuna crudo with capers, pink peppercorn and salsa verde.
Lina Stores Manchester will have the brand’s beloved pasta dishes, such as the 30-egg yolk taglioni with black truffle, and lamb sausage ragu pappardelle, plus new options like lemon sole and potato raviolo.
For secondi (because this is Italy darling, you can have two mains!) there are dishes like chicken Milanese and Luganega fennel sausage.
And for dessert, it’s set to be a feast of Sicilian cannolo (filled with ricotta, pistachio and chocolate) and tiramisu.
Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester. Credit: Rebecca Hope
In the open-plan delicatessen, you’ll be able to grab filling salads, freshly-made panini, and delicate cakes and pastries.
Shelves will be stocked with Lina Stores Collection pantry essentials, from olive oil to traditional biscotti.
And just next to that will be Bar Lina, serving classic and modern Italian cocktails for aperitivo hour until late at night.
Expect favourites like the bloody martini, Rinomata americano, and the basilico with gin, vermouth, basil and lemon.
The bar will have a versatile wine list from all corners of Italy, including the brand’s own signature collection.
Lina Stores Manchester will be located on Quay Street in the recently-refurbished Quoin building, right opposite the Opera House theatre.
Masha Rener, Head Chef of Lina Stores, said: “We’re extremely excited to be opening in Manchester this spring.
“The city feels like a natural home for us considering the area’s rich history, vibrant culinary scene and lively nightlife, and look forward to sharing our passion of great Italian food and produce with the Manchester community.
“Quay Street is the perfect location for us to do so, sitting right in the trifecta of Spinningfields, St John Street and St Peter’s Square.”