Hi everyone

For those who don't know me, I am disabled after I shattered my back in a diving accident in 2003. The accident left me with spinal cord damage, which has meant paralysis from the waist down.

In spite of my disability, I am planning on going on a canoeing expedition to the River Yukon in Canada next year.

This trip on the 1st August 2010 will involve three weeks of canoeing and camping on the River Yukon in Canada, where we hope to complete 700km of river from Whitehorse to Dawson City in twenty days.

There are many challenges to having a spinal injury- not only the obvious paralysis, but also loss of sensation, constant pins and needles in the legs, muscle wastage and high risk of pressure sores.

On August 8th to 15th, I went to Finland where I joined five other people canoeing and camping round the Saimaa Lakes. It was a great trip and will, I believe, prove to be vital preparation for Challenge Yukon since I now know first-hand what a canoeing and camping trip involves. First of all, I will need to be in peak fitness to do 40 miles a day and secondly my packing will need to be ultra-organized! (Colour co-ordinated dry-bags are the key). The trip has made me more excited about Challenge Yukon and more determined to get my preparation for the trip exactly right.

Ultimately, by going on this expedition, I hope to prove that not only can the challenges of disability be met, but they shouldn't be a hindrance to adventure and an enjoying nature in an active way. Going on an expedition requires a large amount of preparation in order to deal with the challenges that you may face- when these challenges are thus overcome, it will give the person a large amount confidence in knowing that independence is simply a matter of preparation. For a disabled person, this confidence can be the difference being stuck at home and reluctant to break out of the daily routine, and  joining in with activities and enjoying nature.

This expedition hopes to raise money for the Equal Adventure charity, who tirelessly help disabled people through their research in adaptive equipment and instruction. Equal Adventure have designed the Aquabac postural support, which will be the main part of my seating system in the canoe.

For the Challenge Yukon trip, I need to raise £1650 for the trip (for the canoe, paddles, buoyancy aid hire and transport from Dawson city to Whitehorse after the expedition) and a minimum of £2000 for the Equal Adventure charity. I know everyone is feeling a bit hard up these days, but even if its just a small amount it would really make the world of difference.

Thanks a lot for your time, and thanks for taking interest in my cause.

All the best

Simon Grisdale