I have scoliosis in my spine. This means that I am in pain most of the time. At one point it was so bad I could only walk about 100 metres before I needed to sit down. I was even considering the possibility that would need a blue badge. Thank fully I found a great physio who keeps the worst of my scoliosis at bay. I was relieved because I was missing walking the hills and dales. I was able to get back out there.

Unfortunately in January 2019 I started getting pains round my head. They day I decided that I need to see a doctor about it half my face froze and I looked like I had had a stroke. Fortunately this was not the case. I had Bell's palsy. We do not know what caused it but the pain was so bad I could barely move. I ended up on gabapentin and codeine for the pain. The palsy got worse 3 weeks later. The other side of my face froze. It is very rare for this to happen. The doctors never found out what caused the Bell's palsy but it eventually went. I was spent the rest of 2019 working on regaining my strength and coming of the drugs.

2020 dawned and I was hopeful for better health and getting out on the Fells again. Unfortunately we all know what happened next. I was also struck down with chest pains in March, April and May. They kept coming and going. It was very serious with reduced liver function. Some of my symptoms pointed towards possible cancer. It turned out that I had gallstones. My gallbladder has been removed and the pain has gone.

My health is now very much improved and I took the decision over Christmas 2020 to work towards doing the Lake District 5 Peak Challenge. My training is going well. Been walking in Grizedale today. It was difficult to get the steps in earlier in the year due to another lock down but now we are out and about.

I am raising funds for the NSPCC. A great charity that is close to my heart.