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I recently conquered one of my biggest fears by jumping the Highest bungy in the world, but this is nothing compared to my next challenge. I have entered the Virgin London Marathon 2010 as part of the Aspire Team! Aspire is a National Charity that supports people after spinal injury towards independence. Four people a day incur a spinal injury, this may result in complete or partial paralysis and have to come to terms with the change in their life and adapt according to their newfound disability. A family friend was involved in a severe motorcycle accident June 2008 and as a result is now a Tetraplegic. I knew nothing about Aspire until Dennis’s accident. He turned the corner on the road and skidded off his bike across the road, into the oncoming traffic and was run over by a white van. He has incurred massive injuries, being in hospital for over 17 months. He had to learn to breathe again unaided, learn to speak and has achieved so much.

Dennis’s extremely supportive family are doing everything to promote independence. My target figure of £1750 goes directly to the Aspire charity, but anything above this amount will be given to support Dennis, to help will additional equipment which is vital for his development.

Many people after spinal injury spend months if not years, in a spinal unit in hospital. All of Aspire’s services are funded entirely through charitable income and project based funding. Through campaigning they have developed links with Parliament on a range of important issues including wheelchair provision and accessible housing – they continue to advocate for positive change.

You may like to look at the website to learn more about the work that is being done and the research into groundbreaking areas.   http://www.aspire.org.uk/

Affected people have to live in totally inappropriate temporary accommodation when leaving hospital –One of the services that continually needs more fundraising are the Adapted Temporary Housing that Aspire have been developing – currently there are about 22 properties available and several being adapted –the target is to be able to provide 100 fantastic totally adapted flats so that the people leaving hospital have the best accommodation in order to start rebuilding their lives. 

Currently  Dennis’s family are working on building an extension to their house to enable him to be as independent as possible (which is the most important thing) but this takes time and he is living in a flat which is not provided by Aspire – there are none around where they live  !!! The additional money I raise above £1750 will help towards this and much more.

Every £1 counts, so please dig deep and donate now!!!

Thank you so much for your generosity,

Fay (soon to be Forrest Gump) Berry