I am lucky.  A weird start of this kind of story I know, but bear with me... I am lucky because I broke my back - lucky because I was supported by a Spinal Cord Unit. I am lucky because I was 21 - I knew who I was, I had time to "discover" who I was and make mistakes. I am lucky I had a degree level education. 

Why am I lucky? Because not all young wheelchair users get these opportunities.

So onto the meat of this - Whizz-Kidz does vitally important work for, with and on behalf of the 75,000 young wheelchair users within the UK - up to 26 (most National Youth Services cut out at 21!) They help young wheelchair users get the right wheelchair, something I can personally attest impacts not just the physical ability of a young person but their state of mind too. 

Whizz-Kidz also helps those young people by their clubs, programmes, Employability support, as well as Wheelchair Skills Training. Whizz-Kidz works with partners from schools, to charities, to sports clubs and corporate organizations to give all young people the skills, confidence and experience to be able to thrive in a world designed to exclude them. Let me say that again designed to exclude them. 

Through Campaigns and Policies, Whizz-Kidz give young wheelchair users a voice, impacting the changes that they will see, they will inherit, from access to transport to access to the type of education I was allowed, and expected, to attend as an able bodied person. 

So this year I am crossing the barrier from supporter to "runner" to raise funds for Whizz-Kidz, because I am proud of the work that they do, and proud to be part of the team that can make such a needed impact upon the world.