In July of this year I am planning on undertaking the Heart 200 (a 200 mile cycle around Perthshire) to raise awareness and as much money as I can for the amazing charity Over the Wall! Anyone who knows me will understand that this is going to be a massive physical challenge, as it is not only a very long way, but I am attached to a feeding pump for 22 hours a day and have so much medication to consider en route. But I will take all these things with me, along with a few amazing people who will help support all my needs! This epic cycle will take place during the week of Over the Wall’s Scotland camp, starting and finishing at Strathallan School where the camp takes place. Over the Wall provides camps for children and young people, and their siblings and families affected by serious illness, and through a week long camp bubble filled with magic, it helps to heal the trauma they have endured with an amazing therapeutic recreation based programme. Over the Wall taught me, and so many others, how to be the hero of my own story, to embrace every opportunity in life, and to turn the words ‘I can’t do that’ into ‘I can and I will do that’. And to thank them my cycling legs will come out this summer, and fire (or gently roll) around the local countryside. I am hoping as many of you as possible will also help me in the process, joining in to support me on sections of this huge cycle, or by donating to the awesome Over the Wall charity through my just giving page. 

For those of you who want to know a little bit more about my story, and why this is so important to me please keep reading.

In 2007 my appendix burst, I developed massive sepsis, and endured multiple surgeries, all of this leaving me with serious health challenges. I am very lucky to be alive. But life is not just about being alive, it is about living. 

Through my teenage years I was often living in isolation. Literally. My world shrunk down to four walls. No access to the outside world. No escape. And every day was the same, things happened at the same time, people came and went at the same time - they came and went, but I couldn’t.

This was hospital. A place of healing and hope. Yes it is those things, but not in the eyes of a young person, bursting to be out in life, running wild, shouting, screaming, laughing and living. Whilst of course I am extremely grateful to everyone who helped save my life, and who cared for me with kindness, I was young, I did not understand, and at that time I felt like I was in prison.

Living like this does something to the most positive of young people. You build protective layers to cope with the pain, and the indignity. While your friends continue to grow, and live a ‘normal’ life, normal didn't touch me, or my hospital friends.

Imagine feeling like this. Not for one minute, not for five minutes, but for years.

And then imagine a place where you are not defined by your illness. Where people see past the tube and the medications and the problems. Where people focus on what you can do, not what you can’t do. This is a place where you can just be like everyone else. A place where you can just be normal. 

Camp made it possible for me to do things that I never thought I would ever be able to do again. Camp protected me but also always found a way for me to do things, and that made it possible for me to be like everyone else in the outside world. 

Camp burst down those four hospital walls!

For an amazing week I was able to go to the ropes course, climb the climbing wall, go horse riding, do arts and crafts, go to the disco, take part in talent night, do sports and games and drama. We sang lots and lots of silly songs and made lots and lots of noise. Something those of you who know me, know I do well!

I had been dropped into that magic bubble.

Camp gave me fun. Camp challenged me. I sang and I danced, and I made so many friends. Camp made me feel normal again.

Camp were always thinking of a way for everyone to be a part of life. There was no sitting back and accepting ‘you can’t do it.’

All the fun and silly, special time helped me in ways it is hard to explain.

And it doesn’t just happen in that magical week away in the camp bubble. You take a piece of camp home with you. And you take that strength home with you. It helps with the good times and the bad times.

Camp, made hospital easier. I understood for the first time that people were trying to help me, not to hurt me. That didn’t mean there wasn’t pain, but I could manage it better. I could see through the hospital walls to the outside.

As I have grown, camp has been with me, and not allowed me to accept being thought of as different and less able. Yes I am different, but Camp has shown me what l am able to achieve in life. It has given me the ability to try new things, and the belief I can do anything I want. (this great big cycle!) I wish everyone could experience a bit of Camp.

I would love to thank Camp for helping me to accept my illness but not be limited by it, and I would love to help play a part in providing others with the same opportunity that I had.

So to do this, I am asking everyone who has read a bit of my story to please help me to raise a huge amount so other young people like myself can experience the unbelievable magic of camp, to feel safe and happy, and to live their lives to the full no matter what challenges they may face!