A father who was paralysed in the Manchester Arena attack has been presented with a prestigious award that celebrates “inspirational” volunteers.
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 of people injured in the terror attack at Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017.
Since that horrific day, Martin has shown true fighting spirit and always made it his mission to “turn an appalling act of terror into a force for greater good” by raising worthy funds for Spinal Injuries Association (SIA).
Martin won his place in the hearts of the nation when scaled 19,308ft to the top of Africa’s highest mountain Mount Kilimanjaro in an epic expedition earlier this year.
Now a wheelchair user, Martin used 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.
Paralysed Manchester Arena attack survivor given prestigious award for ‘inspirational’ fundraising efforts / Credit: SIA / Cloud Force Marketing / Sam Manton
Martin credits his recovery to support from the association and the dedicated care he received by staff at Salford Royal Hospital, and as a fitting tribute to the people who “changed [his] life” and “put [him] back together”, he completed the challenge alongside his friend Stuart Wildman – a consultant nurse who cared for him from the very beginning in the Major Trauma Unit at Salford Royal.
Martin says his work as an SIA trustee offers “hope, confidence, and practical skills” to other people paralysed by spinal cord injury, and helps to “move mountains” in promoting optimism and inclusivity for life after injury.
So far, Martin has raised over £800,000 for the SIA – but is looking to reach his target of £1 million.
And now, with his fundraising target firmly in sight, the 45-year-old has been presented with the prestigious Prime Minister’s ‘Points of Light’ award – which is given to outstanding and inspirational volunteers making a difference in their community to “celebrate, encourage, and promote” volunteering and the value that it brings to the country.
— Spinal Injuries Association (@spinalinjuries) October 14, 2022
He was presented with the award by Chorley MP and Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lyndsay Hoyle, at Chorley Town Hall last Friday.
“It’s an honour to receive the Points of Light Award for my Kilimanjaro climb,” Martin said on receiving his award last week.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it is only part of the full story. Because we all have our own mountains to climb every single day, my true ambition is to enable every spinal cord injured person to receive the specialist care and support they need to live the life they choose and reach their full potential.”
Sir Lyndsay said Martin’s bravery and determination is ‘truly inspirational”, and that he represents everything the award stands for.
Manchester Arena bomb survivor Martin Hibbert has been given a 'Points of Light' Award for his campaign to raise awareness for people with spinal cord injuries.
Keen to show your support to Martin? All donations towards Martin’s target of raising £1 million for the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) can be made via his official JustGiving page here.
And don’t forget to keep up to date with Martin in the lead-up to the challenge on Twitterand Instagram.
Featured Image – Martin Hibbert
News
You can star in your own series of Taskmaster in a castle near Greater Manchester this summer
Clementine Hall
Are you ready to channel your inner comedian? Great, because Taskmaster is coming up north.
Well…sort of.
The beloved (and hilarious) show is bringing a family-friendly version to Beeston Castle and Gardens, which is a picturesque English Heritage site in the rural Beeston area of Tarporley in Cheshire, and you are invited to try your hand at the wacky tasks yourselves.
From now right up until Sunday 31 August, visitors can take part in the ridiculous challenges inspired by the hit TV show.
In partnership with English Heritage, it’s appropriate for all ages and a fantastic day out for all the family.
Contestants will pick up their score card on arrival before exploring the site and getting involved in tasks along the way.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the popular comedy show or a complete newbie, this Taskmaster experience guarantees a hilarious day out in the Cheshire countryside… and don’t worry, Greg Davies and Alex Horne won’t be judging your efforts along the way either – phew.
“We are delighted to be collaborating with the Taskmaster team this summer,” commented Beth Stone, who is the Head of Visitor Engagement and Experience at English Heritage.
You can star in your own series of Taskmaster near Greater Manchester this summer / Credit: Jim Holden (via English Heritage)
“From tasks such as becoming a monarch and making your own laws, to creating your own solstice, our visitors can expect a host of fun with a history twist at many of our properties, and of course, plenty of rubber ducks.”
Alex Horne, creator and star of Taskmaster, added: “It’s nice to go to nice places, but it’s even nicer to do fun things in those nice places – and this should ensure you can do just that for this summer at least.”
To find out more, take a look at English Heritage’s website here.
Featured Image – English Heritage
News
Classical musician Hauser announces huge arena gig in Manchester later this year
Thomas Melia
Croatian cellist and former member of classical band 2CELLOS, Hauser, has announced a tour including an arena date in Manchester this year.
World-class musician Stjepan Hauser, known professionally as Hauser, is getting ready to pack his cello and cheeky smile as he embarks on ‘The Rebel Is Back’ tour.
Hauser has amassed a worldwide cult following of classical music lovers, by not only respecting the genre, but evolving it too by intertwining his cello skills into modern day pop hits.
The cellist has covered lots of current pop songs while part of musical duo 2CELLOS like ‘We Found Love’, ‘Despacito’, and ‘Viva La Vida’.
You can also expect to hear covers of some of music’s greatest compositions, including the timeless opera classic ‘Nessun Dorma’, and highly-adored ballet piece ‘Swan Lake’.
Recently, Hauser has teamed up with London Symphony Orchestra to reimagine Ennio Morricone’s ‘Le Vent, le cri’, taken from the 1981 French film Le Professionnel.
Hauser has performed in over 40 countries and played at some of the most prestigious venues across the world – including Royal Albert Hall and Sydney Opera House.
He’s also become a social media sensation, capturing people’s attention via his videos playing his cello in a variety of interesting locations like a swimming pool, at the desert, and even on the famous Brooklyn Bridge.
Classical musician Hauser announces huge arena gig in Manchester later this year / Credit: Stefan Brending (via Wikimedia Commons)
You’ll be able to identify a lot of the tracks played out when Hauser visits AO Arena, as his upcoming album titled Cinema, features a wide variety of soundtracks and film theme tunes.
The highly-anticipated LP from Hauser contains ‘What Was I Made For?’ from Barbie, ‘Mission: Impossible’, ‘A Time For Us’ from Romeo and Juliet, alongside lots more motion picture melodies.
The musician is quite familiar with Manchester city city centre too, Hauser studied at Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester before taking the classical world by storm.
Emily Sergeant -
17th October 2022 
