Over the last few years, a number of people have told me that I have ‘climbed a mountain’ to get where I am now. I really don’t think that I have - I’ve just chosen to embrace a second chance at life which many are not fortunate enough to have. On Sunday 4th August, however, I will literally be climbing a mountain. With the help of my loyal family and friends, I will be attempting to climb Pen Y Fan mountain in a wheelchair.

The background behind this challenge stems from early 2021 when, totally out of the blue, I contracted Sepsis. This rapidly led to Severe Sepsis and then Septic Shock. I suffered a cardiac arrest and all of my major organs shut down. Thankfully, the brilliant NHS staff working at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth brought me back to life. The downside being, however, that I had to have both of my legs amputated below-knee in the process.

I spent a total of almost 50 days/nights recovering in hospital, including undergoing intensive kidney dialysis. I was finally allowed to go home to be looked after by lovely wife Sue but, as the weeks went by, I started to question what the future would hold for me. The reality hit-home hard that I was a 51 year old unemployed man with dodgy kidneys and no lower legs. What could I do?

Fortunately, I then discovered Wheelchair Rugby. I remember being so nervous showing up to my first training session but I needn't have worried - I took to the sport straight away and loved it! I found it great for both my physical and mental health. In this 5-a-side sport, I played in attack alongside a fellow (single leg) amputee called Gordon (Nobby) Clark. Nobby and I ended up playing for 3 seasons together including at the Wheelchair Rugby GB Championships. We became good friends in the process.

With us both living in Cornwall and having to travel to Devon in order to play, Nobby decided to set up the first Wheelchair Rugby Club in Cornwall called the Celtic Warriors. I quickly joined to help him in this process, with both of us motivated to help other disabled people experience the physical and mental benefits that we experience ourselves playing Wheelchair Rugby.

As a club the Celtic Warriors is going from strength-to-strength. It is great to see the smiles on players' faces which might not otherwise be there. We have even started to reach out to disabled teenagers who have joined us for training sessions.

However, we are in desperate need of funds. Wheelchair rugby is a very expensive sport in terms of buying playing chairs, wheels, court hire costs etc. Please share this page and donate whatever you can to help our club survive and allow us to put smiles on the faces of more disabled people as they re-discover themselves through sport. Thank you. Al.