Hello!

On October 23rd 2010 I fell off my horse whilst riding in the New Forest.  I fractured 3 of my vertebrae as well as my left ankle.  I was lucky enough to make a full recovery and have resumed a normal life including riding again.  I realise how lucky I was and how much worse things could have been if I had landed slightly differently or on firmer ground.  

When something like that happens to you it makes you think of all those who were not so lucky.  On average in the UK someone is paralysed every 8 hours and around 1,200 people are paralysed each year, many from horse riding or sporting accidents just like mine.  

This October, a year after my accident, I am running the Great South Run in aid of the charity Aspire.  Through its projects and programmes, Aspire offers practical support to the 40,000 people living with a spinal cord injury in the UK so that they can lead fulfilled and independent lives in their homes, with their families, in work places and in leisure time.  

I hate running so every mile of this 10 mile (16km) race will be painful! Please donate what you can to this worthwhile cause.

Many thanks,

Faye