I need encouragement to run, so I have decided to do a fundraiser.  Can I get to 5K? See below as to why.

I live in Knaresborough and locally there is a charity called Henshaws.  They support people living with sight loss and other disabilities from all over the country.  They “believe that … everyone has the right to an independent and fulfilling life. Our support, advice and training enables people and their families to build skills, develop confidence, help each other and look forward to a more positive future.”  Find out more about Henshaws here https://www.henshaws.org.uk/.

I know there are many people in need currently, but I hope you can help me raise some funds to help Henshaws, and in turn help me continue to get strong. 

38 years ago I was involved in a road traffic accident.  I was riding my motorbike and I was in a collision with a car that pulled out in front of me.  I rolled over the damaged bonnet and somersaulted across the road. I suffered major lacerations to my left thigh and a few cuts elsewhere.  The thigh was the problem – there were no breakages but the muscle damage was significant.  After recovery, I thought nothing more about it until autumn 2018, when on holiday I found that walking was becoming increasingly difficult on a day to day basis.  The rapidity of the deterioration of my leg was frightening.  When we got home I was crippled with plantar fasciitis (PF) to my left foot and extreme pain in my left hip. I sought treatment for the PF but it was being caused by the wasting of the muscles in my hip and thigh. I’m a yoga teacher and therapist and thought my career was over, however I managed to carry on teaching using a chair and wearing trainers.  A year of hard work followed, building up the left leg which I had unknowingly underused all those years, weakening it significantly. With the help of two physios over a year and my massage therapist, not to mention my Yoga, I have slowly and steadily regained strength.

I was delighted that I could walk, pain free, in Northumberland in January 2020.  I thought I was fully recovered, but when I came home I contracted a virus. Three weeks of very little exercise and a lot of bed/sofa rest and I felt as if I was back to square one with pain. 

We are now in May 2020 and I am fitter than I have been for a long time and crucially almost pain free.  Following the virus in January I concentrated on my yoga practice and walking. Then came C19 lockdown – I had choices.  I chose to follow my usual yoga practice, take part in Joe Wicks’ PE every day and rediscover the exercise bike.  My leg is now very strong so I have invested in a treadmill and completed week one of "0 to 5K" to make sure I can do this. I was told I probably wouldn’t be able to run again!  

Please support me and raise funds for a great charity.  #runningyogi  #injuryrecovery #henshaws