I started my 60th year of being ALIVE on July 6th 2014 and decided I wanted to give something back to Canine Partners, until 5th July 2016. Today on my 61st Birthday, I have decisded to keep on trying for another year, so here is my story...

I became disabled and a wheelchair user after picking up a blanket without bending my knees, 15 years ago. My back went crack and after 8 weeks in hospital helping me to walk they diagnosed degeneration of nerves in my spinal cord. I am now a wheelchair user and I furniture walk at home. I have now broken 10 of my spinal bones, the last 2 only last year, and so easily done by sitting up. It's taken 10 months of living with severe depression to get me back to the Gym to improve on my fitness and weight loss. In May 2011 I weighed in at 19 stone 5 1/2 lbs with the help of weight watchers and the Gym I have lost over 4 stone in weight.

My Canine Partner Alucia has been so part of my last 2 years journey. Without her I would still be hiding under a blanket sobbing. She has given me the freedom to go out for walks and talk to someone. She has helped me go out, come home late, help me get undressed and flings my feet into bed. She has created sanity where there was ill health. She has given me security when I was alone and my keys or purse or phone lie on the ground, returning them safely to my hands and repeating the process when I keep dropping them, never saying "not again!"

I am doing a number of fundraising events through the year I hope you can join & support me along the way