From the 2nd to the 9th September, the fifth edition of the Camp Spinal H2O took place, a sports camp for people with a spinal cord injury from all over Europe organized by the Institut Guttmann and the Sunnaass Foundation in Norway.

This edition welcomed a total of 22 participants, people who have acquired a recent spinal cord injury, coming from Catalonia and other areas of Spain, Norway, Sweden, Latvia and Denmark. A group of 6 former patients from the Institut Guttmann participated: Anna, Jose, Paz, German, Àngels and Jennifer.

All of them have been accompanied by a group of mentors and professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, physical educators, nurses, assistants and a doctor.

While taking advantage of the facilities in the city of Barcelona and its surroundings, they have tried different water sports such as paddle surfing, scuba diving, sailing, kayaking, jet skiing, parasailing and wake boarding, and have also visited different places of interest in the city such as the Gothic Quarter, the Ciutadella Park and the Sant Pau Modernist Precinct.

The week aims to show participants that they can maintain an active lifestyle and participate in the community and equip them with tools and training to enhance their independence, such as wheelchair driving around town, transfer practice, activities of daily living in a partially adapted hotel, etc. In addition, one of the fundamental pillars of the program is peer support, as mentors, who have been living with spinal cord injury for more years, are encouraged to share knowledge, experiences and advice with the participants, creating a space of confidence and constant learning.

We appreciate the collaboration of the Front Marítim del Besós, of which the company Metrovacesa is a part, for the development of this international campus through the temporary lease of the space Las Tres Chimeneas, in Sant Adrià del Besòs, for the practice of the landsailing, one of the sports activities.