So as you all know by now, I have completed the Yorkshire 3 Peaks every year for charity and obviously plan to do the same again this year. This will be the first year completing it after dislocating my knee on duty - so I’m just aiming to finish it rather than beating previous times!

I usually raise money for YAS ambulance service charities, or which ever charity Helen Smith is raising money for.

This year I would really like to raise some funds for the Thin Blue Paw Foundation.

Last year retired PD Neo suffered a gastric torsion, this would have been fatal had the Thin Blue Paw foundation not stepped up to save his life.

PD Neo happens to be “room mates” with currently serving PD Turbo, and his equally bonkers handler Rob.

Over the years, PD Turbo and Handler Rob have managed to become quite memorable characters in the story of my Paramedic career.

Several years ago I was held in a property while on duty, by a man with a knife, who wouldn’t let me and my crew mate leave, or retreat to safety. My fabulous dispatcher that night was Kerry Lascelles who managed to get Humberside Police to me to come and help me. This would be the first time I met Rob and PD Turbo. Neither of them will know this, but that incident left a permanent scar. I had recurrent flashbacks, sleepless nights, and was eventually treated for PTSD. It is the only recurrent nightmare I have ever had about any incident I have attended over the last few years of serving with YAS.

Many of you know that my career has been plagued with the most weird, and often very graphic and potentially traumatising incidents. From attending murders, serious sexual and physical assaults, major trauma, house fires, child deaths, seeing body parts that should be INSIDE being outside… This is the only one I have EVER had recurrent nightmares from.

Since then, I have attended countless incidents where PD Turbo and Rob have either called for my assistance, or I’ve needed them to help me. The sense of relief I have when I see those two is always immense.

And so, in an effort to try and thank them both for ALWAYS having my back over the last few years, I would love to try and repay them by raising money for the charity that saved their “brother”. I am hoping my friends and family, both personal and “Green Family”, can help me raise as many funds as possible for the Thin Blue Paw Foundation.

I am hoping to secure some pin badges/patches for the Thin Blue Paw and will be sorting a QR Code for scan to purchase in the next few days as a secondary way to raise funds 🥰

The Thin Blue Paw Foundation was launched in 2020 to support serving and retired police dogs across the United Kingdom. After a lifetime of service, police dogs are not afforded a pension in retirement, meaning that the responsibility for their care and the cost of their vet bills falls solely on their ex-handler or new owner. Since our launch, we have helped over 150 retired police dogs, covering £330,000 worth of veterinary and rehabilitation care.