Serving in the forces for almost 15 years and leaving practically in tact was an amazing achievement. Ive seen soldiers return with missing parts, i've also known some not to return. Ive always considered myself lucky and a positive person but thats only because ive always had an amazing support network of family and friends around me. That was tested November 2020 when the decision was taken to have my lower left leg amputated due to damaged caused from a blood clot post knee surgery. My biggest fear was "I'll never walk again" along with "I'll never play rugby league again". My brain started to compound my fears and make me almost believe that was the outcome. 4 weeks post amputation I fell in my bathroom and landed on my freshly amputated stump. Absolute pain ran through my body as blood spurted and poured everywhere. Blue lights into emergency surgery and I wake up the following morning scared stiff. Not wanting to luck under the sheets, "am I an above knee amputee now?" That was the fear I had but thankfully I was still below knee. I laid in hospital trying to convince myself ill be ok and I will walk again. I lost my leg during cover so rehabilitation was hard. I had to do things for myself in order to get back to some normality. I did what I do and set myself a challenge "13 weeks post amputation, walk 5km unaided". I did it for charity but it was just a walk in the park, literally. My brain challenged me and kept telling me it proves nothing. So, I decided to go bigger and I set a challenge to climb the National 3 Peaks Ben Nevis (Scotland), Scafell (England) and Snowdon (Wales) within a year of my amputation. Myself and the team set off for Ben Nevis summit on 17th August 2021. The climb was so hard and I guess I underestimated it but with will and determination we did it, I did it. I reached the summit of the highest mountain in the UK 9 months after losing my leg. I gained a world record for the Greatest Vertical Uphill Distance On Foot in 24hrs (LA2) (below knee single leg amputee). Im not the first and I won't be the last but i'm the first under the new impairment initiative for the Guinness World Records.

Coming down Ben Nevis proved harder then going up and resulted in a serious injury. I slipped and split my stump scar wide open and was forced to rest and miss Scafell whilst the team conquered it. the rest and remedial medical treatment allowed me to take on Snowdon on 19th August 2021 and be at the summit with the team who completed the 3 peaks. I was determined to complete my challenge of all 3 within a year and get the one that got away so I did, 10th October 2021 I went back and completed Scafell and ticked the 3 peaks off. Since then ive been focussed on keeping going as to not allow my mind to wander and think of the adversity of losing a leg or to allow my mental health to deteriorate. Ive had some dark days of not being able to do things others do and I guess I took for granted for so long. Not being complete was a big issue for me but I just kept my mind busy with work and looking at challenges. I took on a charity walk from York to Hull in aid of the Jack Harrison VC MC charitable trust who are looking to have a statue erected in honour of Jack. 38 miles was a killer on the leg/s but we did it in 12.5hrs walking 16hrs with rests and food/water stops. This was a replacement for my 2022 challenge which I had to postpone for various reasons but now im going for it in 2023.

September 2023 I will take on the huge trek up Kilimanjaro. At 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world; it is one of the Seven Summits. The snow-capped peak of Africa is a dormant volcano and can be found inside the Kilimanjaro National Park of Tanzania. It is by no means easy and will be a huge challenge physically and mentally but thats why they call them challenges.

This challenge will mean I have achieved the following within 3 years of being an amputee

Walked 5KM unaided (13 weeks post amputation)

Summited Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon (less than a year as an amputee)

Walked 38 miles in one day (less than 2 years as an amputee)

Carried the Queens Baton through Beverley for the commonwealth games

Gained 2 Guinness World Records

Summited Kilimanjaro

When donating please remember that I push myself to not only prove I can do things still, but also, to raise vital funds for the charities that have helped me and many other service personnel through hard times. The Royal British Legion, SSAFA, BLESMA and Hull4Heroes are charities that go above and beyond to help those who served our great nation and wrote a blank cheque to the government which included their life. Please just remember that. Your donations big or small are all just as important to the work these charities do, trust me I know first hand.

So far with the support of others ive helped raise over £409,380.00 for charities since 2009 and counting