Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Seven and a half years ago I was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis (TM), a rare auto-immune neurological condition where there is an inflammatory attack to the myelin sheath surrounding the spinal cord. This can occur anywhere on the spinal cord and the person affected can experience symptoms of neuropathic pain, muscle weakness, paralysis and many other symptoms from the point of attack downwards in their body. The condition affects approx FIVE in ONE MILLION (5/1,000,000) and at the moment there is no cure, although research is being done worldwide to find one, with a lot of work centered around stem-cell replacement, but this is still some way off.

This condition came out of nowhere, striking me following a viral infection I didn't even know I had.  Since then for me this has meant a daily battle with constant, chronic pain, resulting in severe mobility issues, which has progressively worsened.  Neuropathic pain is the worst pain I've ever experienced (it's not like the pain you get from bumping your head/arm/leg or whatever) - it's like 1000* hot pins and needles feeling - ALL THE TIME.

Now I've never been one for sponsored walks or head shaves etc (for obvious reasons, lol), apart from that horrendous attempt at a moustache that I tried for Movember a few years back), however I really wanted to bring your attention to this condition/disease that affects so few, because you never know who might be next!  Research can only be sustained through continued funding and all I ask of you today is to donate anything you can to try and prevent the 5/1,000,000 becoming more, and if you think about your current generation of children, and their future generations, you know you'll be doing something to help!

I'm lucky that I have an extremely supportive Wife and children, who all help me greatly with doing things around the home, that most people would normally take for granted and I am eternally grateful for the help/support they give me.

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