In February 2014 I had a snowboarding accident resulting in a fractured back and a spinal cord injury. Now I am paraplegic and only have about 30/35% movement and limited sensation from the waist down.

I spent five months in Stoke Mandeville hospital where I received great care and went through endless hours of rehab. Most inpatients in the Spinal Unit will have a long term stay like I did and it quickly becomes a place to call home if you're not careful! Hospital beds, strange smells and 'interesting' food becomes the norm. Home comforts are few and far between.

The family room in the hospital is a place people can meet with their loved ones in private. Privacy is sacred when your independence is compromised! At the moment, it is a bit dusty.

That's were we come in. We want to raise money to re vamp the family room, make it feel cosy and not clinical. We want to buy new sofas (comfy ones), a DVD player, an iPad so people can go in and FaceTime family or look up adapted accommodation for when they leave. It will need a lick of paint, new blinds, a bin, a docking station to charge mobile phones - all the stuff we have at home and take for granted!

On May the 7th I will be using my puny legs to cycle a half marathon around Milton Keynes along with my wizard of a fiancé (who will by then be my husband - eek!) who will be running it with me. It will be a great challenge and a way that I can give back to a place that helped me so much.

Please donate whatever you can, I know that many people will be very grateful now and in the future.

Lucy