I have decided to fundraise, as many of you know I was involved in a horrible car accident on 17th October last year. I was in the back seat of the car as we were hit side on where I was sitting. That night I broke four bones of the possible seven in my neck (cervical spine). As well as this I had a traumatic brain injury receiving three bleeds to the brain. These were my two major injuries others were managed with stitches at the time. I have been told - and I believe - it’s a miracle I am still here. I feel like the luckiest guy on the planet to still be living and not be paralysed.

Till this day I am still receiving 5 hours of rehab per week for my brain injury and an hour of physio therapy for my neck. The hardest thing about this accident was most definitely the brain injury. With my broken neck there has been an end date insight - the professionals were able to tell me when I would have no more pain and when I would be back to as close to 100% as I’ll ever get - and I am not too far away now physically (gutted I’ll never be able to jump out a plane again though) haha. However the brain injury has been more difficult as no one can give you a specific date that’ll you be back to to your old self, and you may never get there. Accepting a changed new life has been one of the greatest challenges after my brain injury - so much can change and we don’t know incredible amounts about the brain - a consultant put fixings into my neck to repair the damage while I was in a coma, but this isn’t something they can do with the brain. I have came a long way in the past 8 months but I am still fighting now to get my life and myself back to how it was before the accident - I’ll never give up!

I want to give something back for the excellent care I have received and am still receiving from the NHS. In particular this money I raise will go to the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Unit and the Lanarkshire Brain Injury Team. These people have been amazing.

The original plan to raise money was to climb Ben Nevis. I had this idea on Christmas Day as the care I had received up till then was fantastic. The plan was to climb Ben Nevis in September as I was hoping to have recovered enough by then. 6 months have passed since then and my physical recovery is beyond where I thought it would be at this point in time. Due to this I feel asking for sponsorship for only Ben Nevis is not enough. I feel I have to challenge myself further than this. Therefore I am still climbing Ben Nevis with family and friends as part of this fundraiser in September, but in addition I am now trekking round Mont Blanc in 4 weeks time. This will be 7 days of walking, trekking and climbing. I will pass through Switzerland, France and Italy during these 7 days and be walking for an average of 6 hours per day. Our maximum height above sea level during the week will be 2700m (twice the height of Ben Nevis) Really looking forward to taking this on in 4 weeks and Ben Nevis in September.

This money will help the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Unit buying patients anything they need - previously with donations new TV’s and Dyson Fans were bought for patients - depending on the injury some patients can be in hospital for up to 2 years. New equipment for this unit makes this time in hospital more comfortable for some patients. In addition the money raised will also help the Lanarkshire Brain Injury Team. It will enable them also to purchase equipment and allow for training opportunities, which will help ensure they provide the best possible service to brain injury patients in Lanarkshire. Therefore being very beneficial for the service.

I have paid for this trip myself so all money fundraised will be going directly to the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Unit and the Lanarkshire Brain Injury Team. I am excited to give something back as a thank you for their help.

Thank you in advance for any donations made I really appreciate it. Both services appreciate it hugely too as this will help people with similar injuries to me in the future.