HOWARD WICKS

At the age of 16 Howard was a fit and active teenager. Living at home with his family in West Alvington near Kingsbridge, he was a pupil at the Kingsbridge Community College. He adored football and was enjoying his first season in the men's team, Loddiswell AFC. Tragically for Howard and his family, he was struck down, completely out of the blue, by a massive stroke which has now left him with a condition known as "Locked in Syndrome".

Howard has managed to overcome his initial need for assistance with his breathing using a tracheostomy. He can now communicate with his eyes using an electronic board known as a Mega Bee and he also uses an Eye Gaze computer. These are two wonderful and enabling pieces of assistive technology. He uses different eye movements and different facial expressions to indicate certain needs. For instance, a sideways look from one side to the other to say he has an itch! Howard has normal cognitive brain function and is a bright and intelligent young man, but he is locked in a body which has ceased to perform in its normal capacity. Howard's body is paralysed, although he has regained his sense of feeling, of smell and taste, his hearing and his eyes have improved incredibly from the onset of this horror. Howard somehow manages, on the whole, to keep his spirits up.

Copy the link below to his website for further understanding of the condition as well as more stories from Howard and his family.

http://www.hopeforhoward.co.uk/index.html

WHAT I WILL BE DOING TO RAISE FUNDS.........

The Kennet Canal starts in East Reading and ends in West Bristol (after Bath the river turns into the Avon and finishes in Bristol). Around 100 miles! I plan to walk the full route over 4 days. Tackling 9 hours of walking per day (25 miles). I plan on doing this around the third/forth week in September when the weather cools slightly (confirmed date to follow shortly)

The money I will raise will go towards better equipment, latest technologies, better staffing levels, days out and experiences, Dr and medical expenses, any treatments for improvement, further home improvements to his specially adapted home etc. Basically anything and everything Howard will need to have a better life with this condition.