This is recently retired Fire fighter, Frank Livens. Frank retired from Essex Fire and Rescue Service, aged 50, as a Crew Manager in March of this year, following 30 years of dedicated service. He had a bright future and a well-earned partial retirement ahead of himself and his family but was not in a position, financially, to give up work entirely.

On June the 4th this year, Frank was seriously injured in a freak accident, when he fell from a paddle board whilst holidaying near Plymouth in the UK. He was struck on the neck by his board and became paralysed by the blow! Unable to move he fell face down in the water, slowly became unconscious and DROWNED!

Fortunately he was rescued quickly and resuscitated but it immediately became apparent he had sustained serious spinal injuries! Injuries so severe that they have confined him to a hospital bed for the next four months at least! The prognosis is that with 3 years intensive physiotherapy, Frank may eventually be able to continue life as he would have done before this cruel, freak accident!

But until then Frank and his family now need our help!

At the moment I'm asking you to help raise £5000 to help Frank and his family, through this difficult and costly time but in truth it may be that they need far more help than that? So, let's NOT stop there, let's keep pushing and see what we can raise? Remember, Frank is unable to work for the foreseeable future and thus cannot earn anything!

During his 30 year career, Frank was always first to step up to support a charity of any kind, be it through participating in fund raising or regularly digging deeper than most into his own pocket to find a contribution.

I'm imploring you now to do the same to help Frank and his family!