Dear FB friends,

As many of you now know, following months and months of agony, pain, operations and treatments we have finally had to concede defeat and accept that my lower-right leg needs to be removed in order for me to return to some semblance of a normal life. So......before things are set in motion we wanted to repeat our feat of 2 years ago and attempt to summit Ben Nevis, once again in aid of the Poppy Appeal...and this time, the fabulous staff of the Orthopaedic Department of University Hospital Durham, who have taken care of me with such love and compassion.

As most of you know, the Poppy Appeal is extremely close to my heart - servicemen and women not only deserve our support and assistance, they have a right to it...

I know I am not going to make the summit or anywhere near it......4400 feet on crutches with a gammy leg was never going to be achievable....but I am the luckiest man alive when it comes to friends and for this trip we are going to be accompanied by Gareth and Paula Todd, and their beautiful son Kirk (one of our Bob's best mates).

Our plan is that during the upcoming half-term, Gareth, Paula, Kirk and our Bobby will make the ascent.....whilst Atchari and Annie accompany me for as far as I can get.....Bobby will take the giant Poppy and hopefully (weather permitting) raise it once again at the War Memorial at Ben Nevis' summit - as we did 2 years ago.

Our initial target was £500. However, thanks to people's amazing generosity we have already surpassed that - so we have raised our hopes to £1,000 which will be split between our own Consett Poppy Appeal (once again, as for the previous 6 decades) headed by Mrs Vera Parnaby of Blackhill....our friend and local hero.... and the Orthopaedic department at Dryburn Hospital, headed by one of the most caring, compassion souls it has been my life's pleasure to meet - Sister Andrea Crampton.

Gareth and I give you our absolute assurance that everything we raise will go to our two causes - we are funding our own trips, hotels and food and will take nothing from your money.

It is our duty, if we can, to do what we can.

Finally, I hope you will also recognise that this is not a negative episode in my life. There are people far, far worse off than I could ever be.....let's face it.... I'm a 'millionaire' when I think about my family, friends and work colleagues.... so please, no morbid, mournful, pensive and sorrowful messages...

If you have a couple of quid please help us - thank you and God Bless.

Steve