A herculean effort from a brave Tubz franchisee.

On

the 5th of May, I will be running the Belfast marathon for STARLIGHT! Even as I write this, I still find it hard to believe as I broke my back in a car accident in March 2007.

I have two titanium rods and fourteen screws now which support the lower area of my spine (lumber region). And yes, they are actual screws, as I found out to my shock when I first saw the X-ray of my back. When the consultant explained my operation to me I assumed ‘screw’ was just a medical term – it’s not!

However, I was lucky only to have minor scarring on my spinal cord and retained around 70% of my overall body’s strength. However, not as lucky with my right leg, where much greater loss in motor ability was received and I walk with a limp.

I

never thought I would be in a car accident. Those kinds of things happen to other people, sure, so nobody was more shocked than me with the overwhelming road to recovery which lay ahead.

When I look back at how far I have come, I could never have done it without the help and support of loved ones, friends, doctors, nurses and strangers alike. So with the completion of the marathon and ultimately the closure of this dark chapter of my life, I will move forward knowing that we really are all here for each other and together we can conquer anything.

My goal is to raise £500 and I am half way there already, so if everyone with Starlight and Tubz towers were to only give £1, I would smash my target!

Wish me luck!