It’s a cause quite close to my own heart - I have never suffered spinal injury (unless you count a wealth of lumbar punctures that have gone wrong) but I have had spinal reconstruction - and skull reconstruction if you want to be really pedantic about it. I have suffered from a neurological condition for pretty much as long as I can remember.  

Aged 18, when they thought my condition (Arnold Chiari Malformation - where you're brain herniates into your spinal column and causes all sorts of havoc) had worsened enough that I was potentially going to lose the use of my legs, I underwent a surgery that (for the most parts) stops you getting worse. As I’ve said, I was 18; I recovered quick and became their wonder kid! Not only did I not got worse, I got better! My legs came back, my balance (still shaky) improved, and I began to live a normal life.

You see, it’s possible (for some) to recover from spinal injury or spinal surgeries - the advancements in medicine have helped (more than helped - have you seen the quadriplegic playing guitar hero after they implanted a chip in his brain and hand?). But another factor in the number of people making remarkable recoveries is from the help and support they get from charities like Aspire - charities who encourage and support, who organise physio, counselling, support groups for those directly affected by spinal injury as well as those related to the injured - the wives, husbands, partners, daughters, sons, parents. I know myself that some of the biggest support I received in my own recovery was from friends and family and that a lot of pressure was put on them, more sometimes, than on myself. They need someone to turn to - without a doubt.

That is one of the reasons I have decided to take part in the Aspire Swim the Channel Challenge. The idea is to hit the swimming pool for 12 weeks and swim the length of the channel - that’s 22 miles. Now, I am a swimmer. I spend a lot of time in the pool - it’s the only place I’m remotely graceful or coordinated (and about the only form of exercise I can do with head, neck, or back pain). So I want to challenge myself:

for my own good - to push myself and give myself some focus as I’ve lost that of late
to show that people with spinal problems (and disabled, visibly or otherwise) are capable of pushing themselves and doing more than what society expects of them
to honour those whose recovery are greater than mine own - to honour the sheer grit and determination that it takes to overcome spinal trauma of any kind by pushing myself with grit and determination.
Because of this I plan to swim the 26 miles in 2 weeks - that will mean swimming over 2 miles a day between Sunday 16th October and the Saturday 29th October. It’s going to be further complicated by the fact that I’m working away a lot and will not always have access to a swimming pool. I’m going to have to push myself, to swim when I’m tired and cranky - to swim after a gruelling 6 hours travelling, to swim at 6 am so I can get in a mile before work. After all, why not challenge yourself for a worthy cause?

I hope you will support me in this journey and remember that every penny donated will go to helping someone with a spinal injury so every penny is gratefully recieved!