The three factors that led to me recovering from the bike crash that nearly ended my life in 2000 and left me paralysed from the chest down have been family, friends and Back Up. Without this awesome trinity my life would have been much darker, scarier and so much less fun than has been these last 19 years. The incredible care & dedication of our brilliant NHS and in particular the staff at St Thomas' & Stoke Mandeville hospitals meant that this life has been possible.

So it seems entirely apropros that on my 57th birthday I should climb Ben Nevis with the assistance of family and friends to raise money for Back Up. The fact that my youngest, Kirsten, chooses to be with me on the occasion of her 21st birthday makes it all the more special.

Back Up is 100% self funding so fundraisers like this hugely help the charity to meet an ever increasing demand for our service.

Other SCI sufferers can talk so much more passionately than me about the very real impact Back Up has on their live's.  Please take a sec to hear how Royal Marine, Dom, has has had his life touched by Back Up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUqtx8KNl6M

Sam's story featured on Children in Need also highlights how Back Up's services for children can impact so massively on their happiness.  Back Up is the only charity in the UK that has dedicated services for children and young people with a spinal cord injury. https://youtu.be/jiTcdIZbsQY