Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

This year I’m taking part in an activity challenge for a small charity. I’m really hoping that some of my friends will feel able to contribute, with a donation to a very worthwhile cause.

Limbpower supports people with limb difference and amputees to improve their lives by taking part in sporting activities and leisure pursuits. 

It’s a very personal and almost lifelong challenge for me. As you all know, I became an amputee more than fifty years ago at the age of ten, after a road traffic accident. For most of those years I’ve done my level best to hide my disability where possible.. quite literally.. not many of you will have seen me wear anything that showed my legs.. so even to write this is a bit of a “coming out” for me.. I’ve never even met any other amputees except at hospital visits, and I’ve only recently found the courage to swim regularly in a public swimming pool. I loved swimming as a young teenager, after my accident . As my teens progressed, self-consciousness got in the way and, to my lasting regret, I stopped swimming..  I only started again a couple of years ago, when I quit paid employment.

Over the years, happily, disability and difference has become something to be celebrated and not hidden, although society, like me, still has a long way to go on this.

Sadly, there has been an increase in the incidence of amputation and more education Is needed about it. Limbs are lost for so many reasons - wars, road traffic accidents, cancers, but far more amputations than people realise result from circulation problems, infections and diabetes.

Loss of ability at any age is not only a physical challenge but also a mental health issue.. there is everlasting grief for what has been lost, so it’s doubly important for amputees (including me) to do as much as possible to raise endorphin levels with exercise.

Since finding Limbpower I have met (online) many amputees who have succeeded in amazing achievements, and I’d like to do a little bit to help them to help more people to do the same.

My challenge this month, between 15 August and 15 September is to move by any method.. walk, swim, cycle, row or run, a total distance of 150kms - or 5km a day. So far I’ve had lots of lovely walks and the dog is very happy..but also a few issues so I’m not quite on target..😬

You can follow me on Strava, or If you would like to follow my progress and that of other participants in the challenge there is a public Facebook group called Virtual Challenge Series Community.. and it’s pretty inspiring..😊

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