Thirty years ago, this September I married the love of my life

We’ve shared so many wonderful memories, but we’ve also faced more challenges than either of us could ever have imagined.

We have experienced so much loss as a family as we heartbreakingly lost Lynne’s mum & sister to cancer, her father to Dementia but I promised 30 years ago that we’d face whatever life threw at us together, for better or worse, in sickness & in health.

However ten years ago, life tested us in ways we never thought possible.

Lynne developed sepsis caused by a mass on her spine and was left with an incomplete spinal cord injury. There were moments when we didn’t know if she was going to survive. Having to explain to our son & daughter who were 16 & 11 at the time, the reality of the situation, then tell our wider family what was happening while wondering if I’d lose my wife is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do & something I’ll never forget.

Life changed overnight.

Over the last decade, I’ve watched the strongest person I know face challenge after challenge with a courage that leaves me in awe. She has endured pain, rehabilitation, setbacks and uncertainty, yet she has never let her spinal cord injury define the incredible person she is.

If you know Lynne, you’ll know that her kindness, warmth and beautiful soul shine far brighter than any injury ever could. She has a way of putting others first, lifting people up and finding reasons to smile even on the hardest days. I couldn’t be prouder to call her my wife.

As time passes, spinal cord injuries don’t stand still. We’re now navigating another difficult chapter as her condition changes, and together we’re coming to terms with the reality that using a wheelchair is becoming a permanent part of our lives. Once again, the Spinal Injuries Association has been by our side, offering guidance, support and reassurance as we adjust to these new challenges, just as they did ten years ago.

That’s why this challenge means so much to me.

On 15th August, I’ll be taking on the Spinal Injuries Association Superhero Triathlon alongside Lynne and our daughter Amber & her friend and carer Tracy.

I’m doing it to celebrate everything Lynne & us as a family have overcome, to thank the charity that has never stopped supporting our family, and to help ensure other families receive that same support when they need it most.

If you’re able to donate, no matter the amount, we’d be incredibly grateful. Every pound helps the Spinal Injuries Association continue changing lives.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for supporting such an incredible charity.

After 30 years together, I can say this with complete certainty: my wife’s spinal cord injury has changed many things, but it will never define the beautiful person she is. Her strength, resilience and beautiful soul will always be what defines her. ❤️