On the 12th October 2012 it will be one year since my liver transplant.  I am marking this first anniversary with a 112km (70 miles) sponsored cycle ride from my home in Shrewsbury to Mount Snowdon, and then walking to the summit the following day. 

I am raising much needed funds for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Liver Foundation Trust, which supports the liver unit, with various research and equipment.  They are currently raising funds for an additional Fibroscan machine, a painless, non invasive alternative to liver biopsy (something I wish was available when I needed a biopsy, when the other one was in use!) 

I am also hoping to raise awareness for the Organ Donation Register, for which my family and I owe so much.

http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk

I am 42 years old, married to Lynne with two daughters, Lucy 15 and Hannah 11.  I was taken ill at the start of our family in Zante in August 2011, and was rushed back to the UK to be admitted straight to the QE Hospital from the airport, with what we now know was liver failure.

I have suffered from autoimmune disorders for the past 20 years, and this led to liver damage over a number of years.  Things had been very stable for a few years, until our holiday in Greece when things took a turn for the worse.

I spent 11 days in the QE Hospital while they diagnosed that my PSC had caused my liver to fail, and I went through various medical tests for Liver Transplant Assessment.  Having been told I was accepted, and placed on the ‘Priority’ list, I was discharged and told to wait for the call, and have a bag packed!

      6 weeks later, the call was received in the middle of the night, and I had my liver transplant on 12 October 2011.  The operation went very well, with the exception of some initial rejection, and I was discharged on 22 October.

      I was allowed to return to work on 31 January 2012 and commence light exercise, and build up gradually.  I can't lie, training with my sister and brother in law, who are completing the ride with me, has been hard, I’m not quite where I need to be just yet, but I will be working hard over the coming weeks, and if it takes me all day to get to Snowdon, get there I will!!”

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.