Story
Day One are a national charity supporting people affected by major trauma. They provide practical and emotional support, alongside NHS clinical care, for patients and their loved ones. From day one and for as long as people need them.
In June 2018 I was involved in a road traffic collision while commuting to work on my motorcycle. I was taken to Leeds General Infirmary where a week later it ended in the elective amputation of my lower left leg.
I was visited on the ward by a Day One volunteer, who was an amputee, to tell me their story and how they cope with being an amputee. This visit helped solidify my decision and actually say out loud that I wanted the amputation rather than the reconstruction.
They also provided me with information that would help me once I was out of hospital and dealing with being disabled away from the safety of the major trauma ward.
I have chosen to help raise money for Day One Trauma Support by walking all 96 miles of the West Highland Way, wild camping over 7 days!
I will be doing this with the help of Sam Graham from MKM Self Defence Academy in Halifax.
MKM has helped give me the ability, physically and mentally, to push myself to achieve things that I didn't think were possible as an amputee.
To date, my longest walk on my prosthetic is about 8 miles carrying only a day sack. A lot of training is on the cards between now and September to be able to do nearly 100 miles carrying full overnight kit for 7 days.
I will keep you up to date on our training and planning along the way.
Keep an eye on my website www.thefurthestpoint.co.uk where I write about my adventures as an amputee, and this is definitely an adventure! I'll be posting on The Furthest Point's Instagram and Facebook pages regularly so be sure to follow along.