My Olympic Torch Journey

My Olympic Torch Journey Nomination Story

My daughters Louise and Lila nominated me, and rallied many people to do the same, to encourage me to focus on getting moving and give me hope. Here is their nomination.

We are nominating our dad. Before February this year, my dad spent 26 years working at the YMCA in Norwich, helping young people navigate difficult times in their lives, getting them back on their feet, and setting up charities and support to protect young people and families in times of need in Norwich. Last year, he went into semi-retirement following redundancy. He started working part-time for solo housing. In February this year, my dad suffered a massive brain stem stroke on the way home from Australia on an aeroplane. He spent 10 days in intensive care in Dubai before being flown home to intensive care at the N&N. No one expected him to survive, and at the time, he was paralysed from the neck down, breathing through a tracheostomy tube (unable to speak or eat) and locked in. Today, my dad has started to move his arms, can speak and breathe on his own and has started eating. He has had visitors and messages from people all over the country who he has helped and touched their lives. His spirit is amazing, and he has been an inspiration to the staff and to us, his family, throughout the experience. My dad is lucky and extremely grateful to be alive. With the help of a chair and maybe his legs, carrying the Olympic torch next year would be the most amazing experience and one that I know many people will support. Many thanks for reading...... please choose my dad. Thank you

Olympic Training

During the period in the acute stroke ward, my family would read extracts from Kate Allard’s book ‘Running Free’, being a keen hill walker and skier myself, I received great encouragement from what I was listening to. One day in June 2011 my children informed me that they had nominated me to carry the Olympic Torch I didn’t really take in what they were telling me as I was unable to move or talk and I didn’t really believe I would be chosen but they kept telling me that if Kate Allard could walk after a year so could I, in fact I often dreamt that I was half way up a mountain or skiing with my family, then, I would wake up.

 Then the time came to prepare me for rehab. May and June 2011 I was weaned of the tracky it took eight weeks but it was worth every minute of the time as I hadn’t eaten, drank or talked since February and I had some use in my left arm and leg talking was difficult I had to learn all over again, one word to one breath at first but I didn’t have to rely on the ETRAN communication board any more.

 I was transferred to Rehab in early July, where I spent 3 months. It was here that I received good and intensive physio. I began to break all my target times, i.e. to stand, get my right hand and arm working, to eat with a knife and fork, brush my teeth, wipe my own bum, put my socks on etc., etc.

Just before my discharge from rehab 28th September 2012 I received confirmation that I would be carrying the torch but apart from telling my family I had to keep it confidential until March 2012 this was hard for me as I have never been able to keep a secret; I informed my Physiotherapist though she was over the moon as it gave me a good target to reach. She asked what I wanted the most I said to be able to walk with one stick or none and carry the torch, after research the physio team made a mock torch using a stick a small cone and a bean bag to simulate the weight and size of the torch,  for the next few month I would practice standing, walking between the bars, waking with a frame then quad sticks but I still struggling with balance I had also joined a local gym and swimming pool where exercises and goals were planned, it all sounds very easy but it wasn’t I had down times when I thought I wouldn’t be able to carry on, however, there were many up times as well especially when I achieved another goal.

March 2012 the Olympic organizers announced the name of the torch bearers all of a sudden I became a local celebrity with radio, TV and newspaper reports we even found that I was being reported on around the world, however, at this time I was still struggling with walking with sticks so I asked the physio to step up my training which they did at the gym they concentrated on leg and feet exercises, to this day I enjoy the gym I am often surrounded by young fit men going purple and sweating form lifting heavy weights while I would be doing the same on 2.5kilograms on my arms and 10kilograms on my legs but it worked, a week before carrying the torch I was managing ten steps with one stick while carrying the torch.

July 4th 2012, at Sandringham, Norfolk, my day had come. The aim was that I would light the torch standing up and would walk the last few meters of the 480 m of my leg, and my wife Jeannie would push me in my wheelchair between. All went according to plan I was first to go so my torch was lit from a small miners lamp I was standing with my torch and one walking stick my chair was about 3mtrs to one side; with the torch lit I walked to my chair and sat down then I realised that there were hundreds of people lining the road all cheering me and once again the cameras were there and a horse box with BBC on line coverage was directly in front of me so I relaxed and enjoyed the moment about 30mtrs from the end of my section I stopped Jeannie from pushing me stood up and walked to Peter who was waiting for me to pass the flame, I was told that I walked 28 steps with one stick what a great moment I did it and my daughter in Australia was watching me live the last time I had seen her I was barely alive and the prognosis was bleak.

I appreciate that all stroke survivors' recovery times vary, but I believe that with self-determination, support from family, friends, staff, my faith and a bit of stubbornness, we can reach our goals in a timely fashion. My next target was on my birthday, in June 2013, to climb a peak in Derbyshire. I've written a blog about that experience as well.