In September, I am joining a team of amazing people and specifically my dear friend Clair to get us all up Ben Nevis.  I met Clair in 1998 when we both started our training in Clinical Psychology and we immediately became friends. 6 months later Clair went off on an trip to South Africa and while she was away we got the news that she'd been injured in a car accident in Namibia. 

For a while we didn't really know if we'd ever see her again but remarkably Clair was back on the course 6 months later (via a stay at Stoke Mandeville Hospital). Clair had sustained a spinal injury which meant she couldn't walk but within months she was not only back at work but off on more activity trips with a charity called Back Up that she'd been introduced to. I saw first hand the impact that this had on Clair's recovery and even though I am somewhat of a couch potato myself I recognised the immense importance of Back Up for Clair and others. Since then Clair has become a trustee for Back Up (as well as having a sideline as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in the NHS). 

Clair's accident was 20 years ago and we are doing this climb to mark that anniversary. We are also doing it to raise money for Back Up so they can continue to support people and their families to rebuild their lives after spinal cord injury.  

I have a personal target of £500 to raise to go towards our team's target of £4000.  I would love it if  you are able to sponsor me to help spur me on for this challenge.  Mountain climbing tips also welcome! Oh and can I borrow a jacket from someone....

You can read more about Clair's own story here: 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Clair-Pollard?fbclid=IwAR0AU10K1oHJqFyZB3aUL5A2q8A5xkROaR_pGwmxUx_5xPAqNapeWwnvYW4