#BenHannah3530

Hi,

Welcome to my page. My name is Hannah and I am 29 years old. Most of you know my story but at the age of 14, I suffered an injury playing netball, I sustained nerve damage which led to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. 14 months later I was totally bedbound. I was an inpatient in hospital for 4 years (aged 15-19), 3.5 years of which I was totally bedbound. I then spent 1.5 years (aged 19-21) in a neuro centre. At the age of 21, I came home and have been since, apart from several short in comparison hospital admissions.

I have progressed along the way from being totally bedbound, to being hoisted into a specialised powerchair, to slide board transfers, to learning to stand with a powered standing frame and then after 13.5 years, secondary complications, surgeries, extremely painful, exhausting daily physiotherapy and exercises I took my first step. That was 2.5 years ago. I am still a powerchair user but I can walk a few metres several times a day inside with my splints, a four wheeled walker and the support of my PA.

Heartbreakingly, my dear brother died aged 24 when I was 20 and still away from home at the neuro centre.

I am fundraising to support 3 charities (Starlight Children's Foundation, White Lodge and Child Bereavement UK) to celebrate my 30th birthday in February 2021 and in memory of my dear brother, Ben and celebrate his 35th birthday in November 2021.

In April it would be 10 years since my beloved brother died. I don't want to celebrate that but I do want to celebrate his 35th Birthday and him to know that he is very much remembered and still missed and loved.

Ben was always there for me, he supported me and helped me on my difficult journey, particularly when I was in hospital. I miss that closeness and doing things together. I know he will always be with me in spirit and I will take him with me throughout my life. So this is a challenge we are doing together.

There isn't a particular charity that helped him, so I thought a lot about what charity to support. We didn't have bereavement councilling, however I believe everyone, parents, children/ young people, siblings etc should all be able to have the opportunity to get bereavement support should they want it. I know Ben would have wanted us to be supported and want other families and siblings to be supported to live as good a life as possible, hence Child Bereavement UK seemed appropriate.
Furthermore, in the current pandemic it also seems fitting. Ben was such a kind and caring individual he would want to help others.

I am aiming to walk a total of 30 lengths of my garden by my 30th Birthday a little at a time. Between 1st January 2021-22nd February 2021 (Now I am aiming to complete by the end of March 2021).

I am always ambitious or shall I say not too realistic! I might need to extend the timeline as this is a huge challenge but with my splints, 4 wheeled walker and the support of 2 people-my PA and Mum/Dad I am attempting it...and I will not be defeated. It is exhausting, extremely painful and takes a long time. I can't contribute to the distance everyday as some days I am physically not up to it. But hope over the period of a couple of months I will achieve 30 altogether. After years of hard work it is or will be a bit of a milestone or achievement. Bit, by bit I will get there.

Furthermore, the world is in turmoil, I don't really need any gifts so instead of having presents for my birthday, I thought if people want to give something they could donate here and it would make a positive difference.

All being well I want to do 35 lengths in the months coming up to Ben's birthday- between the 1st September 2021-25 November 2021. I am so glad our birthdays are not together!

I would love family and friends of mine and Ben's to get involved too.

Could you do 30 of something and or 35 of something else?(eg run 30miles and then 35 miles?) Remember Ben, show him how much he is still remembered and loved and help me celebrate my birthday whilst making a difference to these very worthy charities? You choose the time that is right for you. Maybe the summer will give you more options, with warmer weather and less restrictions or maybe you need a focus now?

Child Bereavement UK support parents who have lost a child of any age and children and young people under 25 who have lost a parent, sibling, or someone close to them through bereavement councilling.

Starlight Children's Foundation 'Starlight' grant wishes for seriously ill children, entertain children in hospitals and on Starlight escapes.

Starlight granted my wish in 2013 of a family holiday to London, my first holiday in over 8 years, they made it possible and truly magical. I have fundraised to support Starlight since 2014. I was deemed eligible for a wish in 2010 but not well enough. Ben was looking forward to my wish of a family holiday. Something I think he would have enjoyed and he was greatly missed on.

Since 2014 I have been fundraising for Starlight making handmade greetings cards and Christmas cards.

White Lodge is a charity in Chertsey, Surrey which supports disabled children, young people and adults in a variety of ways with a physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, leisure and life skills (for adults), a nursery, playschemes (for children) and respite (for young people). I  have been attending White Lodge twice a week for physiotherapy and fitness on alternating weeks and hydrotherapy once a week since 2012 and am an ambassador for them. They have helped me in my journey.

I have participated in the White Lodge Olympics and 3 Superhero Tri events over the past few years raising money for White Lodge.

Love Ben and Hannah xx #BenHannah3530

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