After a year of looking to find the right place for my needs, on the 12th of February 2018 I will be starting an extremely intensive physiotherapy regime, mainly based at Flex Health Hull. With the support of my work, they have reduced my hours to enable me to have 3 afternoon sessions totaling 5.5 hours per week with Flex Health and 2 hours a week with a personal trainer who will work closely with the neurological experts in Hull. All these sessions are on a one to one basis and are carried out by specially trained spinal & neurological physiotherapists. This will enable me to push my body to the maximum and see how far I can progress with walking. My health at the moment is the best it has been for a long time and I’m ready to give this opportunity my all and have put at least a year aside for this. Unfortunately due to me having a full time job and the strain on specialist physiotherapists on the NHS, with the number of patient’s they have to attend to, the help I require will not be able to me NHS. That is why I have had to go down the specialist private route. For a years worth of physio & personal training at the current hours recommended the price comes to around £13500 for the year. To help with the cost of this throughout the year, I will be doing various fundraising events etc. I will keep this page up to date with all events and all my progress made so keep your eye out for updates! Let me explain briefly how I came about needing this. In 2006, a week after my 11th birthday, I was diagnosed with a extensive spinal cord tumor. This was huge shock for all my family and me. 7 weeks into chemotherapy I became a full time wheelchair user. Prior to this diagnosis I was a very active sporty person, playing football, cricket squash, tennis etc . The next 10 years was written off for me, appointments (all based in Leeds), treatment, traveling, numerous unwanted lengthy stays in hospital, again all based in Leeds 80 miles from home away from friends and family. This was a very difficult time for me. After 14 months of chemotherapy due to complications it had to be stopped. A month later I had to undergo 2 lengthy 13 hour surgeries within 2 weeks of each other to de bulk the tumor after it had hemorrhaged. This was extremely high risk and left me with alot of nerve damage from the hips down. Because of this then came the numerous orthopaedic procedures to correct my hips, hamstrings & feet. I also had spinal rods inserted aged 13 due to my spine curving (caused by the tumor). Due to me still growing, these had to be surgically extended every 6 months for 3 years until permanent ones could be inserted. These then had to be removed 2 years later due to a huge spinal infection which occurred twice caused by the rods. I have since had to have my spine fused due to the rods having to be removed. During all this I had always had physiotherapy whether I wanted it or not or felt well enough. It was always tough but I always put myself through it. In the last 2 years things have calmed down. I am in full time work, and on coming home after work I do at least 1.5 hours exercise per night to ensure I have the stamina to be able give my all this year! I invite you to donate, fundraise, join in or simply just follow my progress. Thank you for reading.