Sadly, covid-19 will be one of the major stories of our lifetime. Amongst those known to be vulnerable are people living with spinal cord injuries (SCI). SCI affects nearly 50,000 people in the UK, and approximately 35 people are newly injured every week. That's a huge number. 

Before acquiring an SCI myself I didn't know much about it. I assumed people with spinal injuries were in wheelchairs. That's not the case for everyone, including me. I had no idea about the volume of other issues that can overwhelm those at the beginning of their life with an SCI - bladder and bowel problems, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, reduced sensation, temperature control issues, pressure sores, the list goes on. 

Alongside the more physical aspects of SCI, the mental and emotional adjustment to a life that is likely to be so different from before, can, at times, feel insurmountable.

That's why I'm fundraising for Horatio's Garden, a charity that creates and nurtures beautiful gardens in NHS spinal injury centres. For patients on their recovery journeys these havens will be a mental wellbeing lifeline, never more needed than now when people are unlikely to be able to see family and friends (which, other than having access to the outside, is what kept me positive during my own recovery). 

As for my story, I have cauda equina syndrome, an SCI caused by damage to the nerve endings at the bottom of my spinal cord when an undiagnosed spinal tumour haemorrhaged during the birth of our son. After emergency spinal surgery 4 days later, I spent 4 months away from my family in hospitals and rehab, learning to walk again. Despite radiotherapy, a 'seed' that dropped from the original tumour is growing. So I'm preparing for more spinal surgery when it's considered safe enough to proceed, and will need to look hard to rediscover the resilience that kept me going during those tough times last year - albeit in different circumstances.

This year Horatio's Garden is facing a 27% drop in their annual income due to having to cancel events. I'd like to do my small part to help, so I've signed up for the At Home Superhero challenge this summer, to help raise awareness of their cause and to ask family and friends if they'd also like to help. I'll be cycling 20km on a static bike in my living room over the course of one week from 15th June. It's a change from the usual Superhero set-up, but you can read more about these inspiring events for people with disabilities here: www.superheroseries.co.uk.

Thank you for reading and for your support.