I’m raising funds for a very close friend of ours who, whether you know him or not, is an inspiration to us all.

Myself and many close mates went to school with Joe Lockington (Lockers) and grew up with him, and we’re all lucky to call him a pal.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Lockers since we were 4 years old, and he’s grown up to be an amazing lad.

Tragically, in 2012, Lockers began to experience sudden, excruciating back pain, and his Dad Andy rushed him into hospital. Despite being a fit and healthy young lad, at 14-years-old Lockers had a spinal stroke, which caused paralysis from the neck down as well as leaving him unable to breathe without the help of a ventilator. Nearly 1.5 years of medical attention at Birmingham Children’s Hospital would follow before Lockers could finally come home and adjust to a new and completely different life.

Anyone who knows him also will know that Lockers has always been a rocker and he loves live music and spending time with family and friends. He lives life to the fullest despite everything he has been through, and he truly puts us to shame with his resilience and spirit.

What I hope we can help to contribute to as part of this fundraising effort, building on our good mate Ben Phillips’ monumental effort completing a gruelling iron man in support of Lockers, is a purpose-built van that Lockers can use to go on weekends away, visit festivals and get out and about more with all the facilities he needs.

These kinds of vans with their purpose-built, specialist facilities can be hugely expensive, and having researched and discussed these vehicles with Lockers recently and the exact specifications he would need, I even found examples as expensive as around £90,000, so if we can start to help with any of the associated costs even to a small extent, I’d be really chuffed.

So, I’m going to attempt to run 48 miles in 48 hours in support of Lockers, and if you could spare any donation, no matter how small towards the cause, we’d all hugely appreciate it.

Cheers, James