UNLIMITED | SCI Athlete Retreat

26th October - 6th November 2026

Reframing Recovery in Aotearoa

Science-led training.

Athlete mindset.

Holistic wellbeing.

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DRIVEN BY POSSIBILITY

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DRIVEN BY POSSIBILITY *

UNLIMITED:

means having no bounds, restrictions, or highest possible amount. It describes something that is endless, infinite, or unrestricted in extent, number, or time

From a spiritual lens, it’s the limitless nature of the soul.It signifies the continuous flow of divine energy, the absence of beginnings or ends, and the interconnectedness of all things.

Two women are in a gym setting, with one woman sitting and another woman standing in front of her, appearing to assist or provide therapy. They are near gym equipment, including a step platform and a railing. The background features purple walls and gym-related items. 
After a spinal cord injury, recovery can be a long and complex journey. 
Across Aotearoa, access to intensive rehabilitation and specialist support varies significantly.
We believe there is more potential to unlock.
The UNLIMITED Retreat is Aotearoa’s first SCI Athlete Retreat designed by lived experience, to push what’s possible for people with spinal cord injury.

What is UNLIMITED |SCI Athlete Retreat?

UNLIMITED is a two-week, intensive rehabilitation programme hosted at NZCIS — home to New Zealand’s high-performance athletes.

What Makes It Different?

  • We treat people with SCI as athletes, not patients

  • We combine sports science + rehab technology

  • Built under the pillars of Te Whare Tapa Whā, holistic wellbeing framework

  • Designed by athletes and whānau with lived experience

  • Group-based environment (community + motivation)

What’s Included?

  • 15+ hours of training

  • Hydrotherapy

  • Strength + conditioning

  • 1:1 coaching

  • Whānau-inclusive support

This retreat is fully-funded for residents of Aotearoa, so accommodation, meals and programme costs for athletes and 1 carer are paid for. Participants are responsible for their travel to and from NZCIS and meals during the weekend break.

Your investment includes your time, energy and full dedication for the entirety of the two week retreat. All we ask is that athletes selected to attend are prepared to commit to strengthening every aspect of their well-being with us.

For those living overseas and interested in applying, refer to the FAQ page for more information.

What is my investment?

Who’s It For?

People living with spinal cord injuries who are ready to train hard, push limits, and reconnect with their potential.

A gym with purple walls where two women are doing wrist curls on a blue wrist curl resistance machine, one woman is standing and the other is sitting on a bench. Another woman is sitting on the floor nearby, looking at her phone. Fitness equipment and a clock are visible in the background.

Our Partners

This kaupapa is built alongside world-class partners who share a vision of what’s possible.

A modern building with the NZCIS logo and sports equipment inside, located in a parking lot with trees, against a backdrop of hills and a blue evening sky.

NZCIS (New Zealand Campus of Innovation & Sport)

Host of the retreat

High-performance training environment used by elite athletes, located in Upper Hutt, Wellington.

A female personal trainer assisting a person in performing a stretch or exercise on a padded surface in a gym, with purple walls and workout equipment in the background.

Making Strides (Gold Coast)

Leaders in intensive neurorehabilitation. Bringing global expertise into Aotearoa.

Making Strides will bring exercise Physiologists who use targeted movement strategies to create customised exercise plans that help improve strength, endurance, mobility, and overall physical wellbeing. With ongoing support and a deep understanding of neurological conditions, they empower clients to reach their full potential.

Neuro-rehab clinic
A woman with long wavy brown hair smiling while sitting on a white shelf in a bright room, wearing a loose white shirt and blue jeans, with decorative vases and books behind her, and a large blue abstract painting on the wall.

The Wholeness Hub

Charlie Gordon, founder and facilitator of The Wholeness Hub, brings a unique connection to the world of SCI, her fiancé sustained a spinal cord injury in 2024, and she has been his primary carer ever since. Drawing on her background in psychology, NLP, life coaching, health coaching, pilates and reiki alongside her lived experience as a carer, The Wholeness Hub brings a true (whole)istic approach and is joining UNLIMITED to deliver coaching sessions focused on mindset, emotional resilience, and recovery beyond the physical.

Well-being coaching service

Anamia Ltd

Programme Leadership

Providing programme leadership, partnership development and delivery oversight. Founded through lived experience, Anamia Ltd exists to expand access to world-class rehabilitation, foster hope and create new opportunities for people living with spinal cord injury.

Help Us Make This Possible

We’re building something that doesn’t yet exist in Aotearoa, and we can’t do it alone.

Fund the Retreat
Support the pilot programme and help us launch in 2026.

Partner With Us
Join as a delivery, research, or funding partner.

Share the Kaupapa
Help us reach more people and build momentum.

Ways To Help:

Make a Contribution
Become a Partner