Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am trying to raise at least £2000 for Battle Back http://www.army.mod.uk/events/sport/16263.aspx who take air force, naval and army service personnel on all types of sport and adventurous training.  All money will go initially to Help for Heroes who will then pass on to Battle Back any donations made.

My fundraising venture is in two parts:

1.   The Great North Run

I ran the Great North Run http://www.greatrun.org/ in Newcastle on the 20th September 2009 and managed to achieve a time of 2:50:23 hrs for the 13.1 mile course.

It  was a major challenge for me especially running in a large group of people difficult due to my balance and coordination problems.  I also had to manage my fatigue level very carefully as well as ensure that I look after my left eye throughout the run stopping at least half a dozen times to apply medication. This is due to the fact that I cannot blink in that eye and have to apply an eye lubricant constantly. 

I wanted to run the 13 miles as quickly as possible but my first aim was to complete the course regardlesss of my time so I am happy in the time I achieved.

2.   Help for Heroes Big Battlefield Bike Ride

In addition I shall also be cycling on the Help for Heroes 'The Big Battlefield Bike Ride 2010' as part of 'Team Battle Back'.

The ride will which will run from 24th to 30th May 2010 and follow a route from HMS Victory in Portsmouth, then carry on through the battlefields in France ending at Dunkirk where we 'shall remember the extraordinary events of Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force in 1940'.

Team Battle Back will consist of staff and ex-patients from DMRC, Headley Court. 

I intend to use a Viper KMX trike http://www.kmxkarts.co.uk/models/viper/.

Although I have managed to secure the loan of the trike for the bike ride, I want to raise enough money on this appeal so that BattleBack can buy the trike outright from KMX.

I will use the trike on the Bike Ride next year but immediately after the bike ride; the Viper will be given back to Battle Back to complement another trike recently donated by KMX to Headley Court.  KMX have kindly agreed to sell the Viper to me at £865.95 instead of the RRP of £1299.00 because they know it will going to Battle Back after the bike ride.

All other money raised on this appeal will go to Battle Back to be used supporting activities where public money cannot be used.  Battle Back have re-introduced 200 service personnel to sport and adventurous training

Please have a look at http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/battleback.html Back's 1st anniversary write-up by their OC) http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/battleback_1yearon.html or read some testimonials at http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/battleback_testimonials.html.  Alternatively, add Battle Back as a friend on Facebook and then view pictures of all the other people that Battle Back helps.  There are numerous links to news articles, reports, pictures, and vidoes on http://www.army.mod.uk/events/sport/16263.aspx

There are so many more injured and disabled personnel recieve support from Battle Back.  Please support this appeal and if you don't mind publicising my fundraising page elsewhere, please do.

My story is ...

... I was diagnosed by chance in April last year with an 4.5cm Acoustic Neuroma (a benign brain tumor) following a surfing accident.  I underwent immediate surgery on the 1^st  May in 2008 with all of the tumour successfully removed.  After three weeks, I left hospital in a wheelchair with partial paralysis on the left side.  In addition I am now permanently deaf on the left and suffer from balance and coordination problems.  After a few weeks at home, I was admitted to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, more commonly known as Headley Court for a four month period where I was placed under intensive rehabilitation.

It was during my time at Headley Court that I came across Battle Back who since continuously provided me with opportunities to participate in sport and adaptive adventure training as part of my rehabilitation.

...

I want to express my sincere gratitude to Battle Back for all their support to me and my family since I got to Headley Court in June of last year and therefore I am running the Great North Run for Battle Back.  The 13 miles of the Great North Run were extremely hard work for me but the pain was well worth it for a wonderful cause.

I know that Battle Back continues to support all armed forces personnel incluing personnel from 24 Commando Engineer Regiment , other Royal Engineers, the rest of the British Army along with Royal Marines, Navy and Air Force personnel.

And Battle Back's work is only growing.  And Battle Back do this with only two full time staff!

The injuries and disabilities of Armed Forces personnel will not stop and it is often these people that we hear so little about in the press but if you can, please help support this great organisation in such important work as they assist in the rehabilitaion of our Armed Forces.

Please give no matter how small.  Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

If you would like to donate by cheque or by cash, please contact me direct for details.

But most of all, if you can, please donate now. 

Many thanks, 

Matt Raasch-Sotinwa