Rugby Player who broke his neck to take on Great Birmingham Run

A rugby player who broke his neck in a freak accident has made such an incredible recovery that he has signed up for this year’s AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run half marathon on Sunday, 4 May, to thank the doctors and nurses who helped him.

Running alongside Joel Garrity in May will be his twin brothers, Mitchell and Curtis, who witnessed the accident and six friends who have supported him on his road to recovery.

Rugby loving Joel was playing in a match for the Premier Division Doncaster Toll Bar Rugby Team League with his brothers when he was injured during a tackle in 2022.

At first Joel, who was captain of the Yorkshire Men’s League team, didn’t realise how seriously he was hurt.

His brother Mitch explains: “Joel managed to walk off the pitch, so we didn’t know the severity of the injury until he took himself to the hospital a couple days later. “After an X-ray the fracture to his neck was clear and also further tests revealed he had fibrous dysplasia – a rare bone condition.”

Joel, from Doncaster, was referred to Birmingham’s Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, where he underwent complex spinal surgery to fuse his vertebrae and stabilise his neck.

Two years later the 33-year-old still travels regularly to the hospital for consultations to monitor his progress. But he has made such an incredible recovery that he is able to take part in his first half-marathon.

Joel decided to sign up for the biggest Great Birmingham Run in a decade to raise money for Birmingham’s Royal Orthopaedic Hospital and thank the “amazing” medical team there who cared for him.

Joel, his brothers and friends, will be joining 16,000 other runners for the event on Sunday May 4, which includes a city-centre 10k and half marathon through south Birmingham.

The events, which start outside the Library of Birmingham, take in iconic landmarks including the world-famous Jewellery Quarter before a grandstand finish in Smithfield.

Joel, who is one of five brothers, is hoping they’ll be cheered on by other family members and his first baby, who will be around six weeks old. Proud brother Mitch says: “Joel has dealt with his life changing injury amazingly well.

“He has taken every challenge, appointment and surgery in his stride, one step at a time.

“He can no longer play rugby or any contact sport. But again, he’s taken that in his stride and transitioned from captain to assistant coach and along with our brothers, he decided to take up running.

“As a family we are so proud of how he’s handled the whole situation. We have always been really close as brothers. We all really do have a mutual respect. Whether that’s rugby, work or day to day life.

“We have an amazing supportive friendship group and get out running when we can. As brothers we are always each other’s biggest competitors.

“Joel not only wants to complete the run he wants to push himself to compete it in a decent time goal as well.”

You can donate to Joel’s fundraising efforts by visiting his fundraising page here.

Find out more and sign up for the 2025 Great Birmingham Run 10k or half marathon here, or the Junior and Mini events, which this year take place at the Alexander Stadium on Saturday, 3 May, here.