Cygnet Football Club sold home to help Ryan Wiggins’ rehabilitation

The sale of a home in Cygnet has paved the way for footballer Ryan Wiggins to explore his medical options, giving him new hope to be able to walk again.

Ryan Wiggins with L-R Phil Smith committee member from the build team and Thor Boscott playing coach of Cygnet at the cheque presentation for $579,506.39 from the sale of the house that build at Cygnet to raise funds for Ryan Wiggins. Picture: Carolyn Whitehouse

The sale of a home in Cygnet built by his club has given new hope to a Tasmanian footballer who suffered a near fatal spinal injury.

Ryan Wiggins used to play for the Cygnet Football Club before he sustained a C2 fracture to his spinal cord in a non-football-related incident in 2021, leaving him with quadriplegia.

Last year the club decided they would build and sell a home to raise funds for Mr Higgins’ rehabilitation.

In April, the home sold and on Saturday, Mr Wiggins received the cheque from the sale of the home.

“He’s extremely grateful for the Cygnet Football Club and the wider community,” Mr Higgins’ girlfriend Lou Calvert said.

“It was overwhelming to see everyone backing him every step of the way, he’s every grateful.”

Lou Calvert and Ryan Wiggins. Picture: Linda Higginson

The house had been on the market for around four months.

“It was truly amazing,” she said.

“At the time the market had quieted down so it took longer than expected.

“I don’t think he thought it was real … when all the paperwork was through, he was overjoyed.”

Ms Calvert said the money raised would go a long way towards Ryan’s rehab, and it’s hoped he’ll be able to pursue other treatment.

“He wants to go internationally to get treatment,” Ms Calvert said.

“There’s lots of good progress, we’ll hopefully head to the states in the next year.”

The couple has been researching two different treatments.

“It’s kind of like a link they put in where the break is and electronic stimulation above the break point,” Ms Calvert said.

“It’s been enabling people to move body parts.

“There’s that option and stem cells … having that money there will help us decide what we’re doing and enable that to happen.”

Ms Calvert said it was Mr Wiggins’ dream to one day walk again.

“He’s a very determined human,” she said.

“I have to tell him to slow down, he wants to train and train and train every day.”