The reason I am raising money for Joint Action is because when I was 10 years old I was involved in a very severe road traffic accident which left me with multiple crush and fracture injuries. Since then I have spent the last 35 years going through 18 surgeries (so far) to try and correct the damage that was done.

Included among the surgeries I have had two total hip replacements, one of which I was given when I had only just turned 15 years old. At that time I was the youngest person to have a total hip replacement done and was only given it because my Orthopaedic consultant was sure I had stopped growing. This wasn't just your standard hip replacement, my entire hip had to be rebuilt and because I had stopped growing so suddenly and because of the damage done, there was a 6" difference between my legs and so to give me the length back the surgeons decided to give me an extra long pin that would be put in in such a way as to almost correct the difference in length and make it that I would be able to walk without dipping which I had been doing for the last five years. This meant that I was now able to walk almost pain free and was given better mobility than I previously had. 

Through amazing research and the development of new surgeries and techniques, The British Orthopaedic Association have given myself and millions of others the ability to get mobile or keep what mobility we have and for that I will always be grateful to them. 

Around 10 million adults and 12,000 children, have a musculoskeletal condition in the UK today. The Joint Action appeal by the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) aims to help patients by raising funds for research to improve orthopaedic treatment with the potential to improve the quality of life of those who suffer from arthritis, bone cancer and other adult or paediatric conditions, or to those who have endured a major trauma. We aim to Keep People Mobile.