Hello! Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I have decided to take on this fundraising challenge to raise awareness around Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) & to raise a little bit of money for one of its charities - CES UK Charity.

But what is Cauda Equina Syndrome you may ask? CES is a rare and severe type of spinal stenosis where all of the nerves in the lower back suddenly become severely compressed. It requires emergency surgery because the longer it goes untreated, the greater the chance it will lead to permanent paralysis and incontinence. 

Symptoms of CES include:

• Severe low back pain
• Motor weakness, sensory loss, or pain in one, or more commonly both legs
• Saddle anesthesia (unable to feel anything in the body areas that sit on a saddle)
• Recent onset of bladder dysfunction (such as urinary retention or incontinence)
• Recent onset of bowel incontinence
• Sensory abnormalities in the bladder or rectum
• Recent onset of sexual dysfunction
• A loss of reflexes in the extremities

Unfortunately, the reason I am aware of this life changing syndrome is because my lovely mum was diagnosed with CES back in 2006 and has been living with the aftermath ever since. Before being diagnosed, my mum suffered with lower back pain and pain radiating down her leg. After visiting the doctors, she was told she had sciatica. Naturally, the pain worsened and one day after not feeling 'quite right' and experiencing incontinence, she attended A&E and underwent much needed tests/scans. This then identified the compression of the nerves in her lower back and was rushed for emergency surgery to help prevent permanent paralysis. 

Thankfully, the outcome of the surgery did not result in mobility paralysis and she can still walk, albeit with a walking aid and discomfort. The timescale of the undetected compressed discs did however result in paralysis of the bladder and bowel and she has limited feeling in her right leg/foot. As a result of her bladder paralysis, my mum has since undergone 3 massive operations on her bladder with the hope of giving her a better quality of life - but that's another story ay mum!! 

And do you know what? After all of this, she never complains, she is selfless and still puts everyone before herself (much to my dads dismay haha). Mum, you are literally a super hero and we love you so much.

So that's my little story and the reason behind me wanting to do this. I have set myself the challenge of cycling 400 miles through March. We purchased a spin bike a few weeks ago and that is what I will be using to complete this. It'll just be me, on an exercise spin bike, in my garage, feeling very tired and achy!! 

Thanks again for looking at my page, if you would like to donate any amount of money it would be hugely appreciated by me and my upcoming saddle sore!

Also, here is a link to the NHS website which goes into more detail around CES and the symptoms someone may experience -https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lumbar-decompression-surgery/why-its-done/

(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. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity).