Hi, I'm Sam (sometimes known as Mule).

I was born in 1992 with congenital bilateral talipes equinovarus.

From the Steps charity website: "The medical definition of the condition commonly referred to as Talipes or Clubfoot is Congenital Talipes Equinovarus (CTEV). 

Congenital – Present at birth

Bilateral - affecting both feet

Talipes – the foot and ankle

Equino – foot pointing down

Varus – heel turning inwards"

Both my legs were encased in plaster casts from hip to toe once I was around 4 months old. These were changed weekly, gradually adjusting the angle of my feet and legs each time, to bring them into a more typical position. I also had two major operations on each foot before I was 2 years old in order to form my feet into something resembling a non-talipes foot.

Unfortunately, once I hit puberty, I began to develop excruciating pain in my feet and ankles if I had to stand for too long, or walked too far. Cobblestone floors are my worst nightmare! I now plan any extracurricular activities to ensure I don't do too much and spend the rest of the week hurting, or only able to walk through the pain because I know nobody was going to carry me. 

I consider myself very lucky, however. I have been able to do pretty much anything I've wanted to do, and I can walk unaided. I'm not ashamed of my wonky feet, and I quite like the scars that run up the back of my legs and around my feet. 

Children being treated with the full Ponseti method now have much better results, and less ill effects into adulthood. Steps is the leading charity working for all those whose lives are affected by childhood lower limb conditions. Everything they do is about valuing and supporting individuals, families and carers affected by conditions which have an impact on the legs, hips or feet. They are the only charity which supports the most common and much rarer lower limb conditions. 

I will be walking 100 miles through the month of June, doing my bit for their #1000MileChallenge and helping them to help other families in the future.