Mont Blanc (4810m) French Alps, summit planned September 2010!

In the Autumn of 2009, I was in Boston USA gaining super-specialist training in the treatment of facial paralysis and facial reanimation surgery, before returning to the UK to look for an NHS consultant position.

On October 1st, whilst on skype to my 3 yr old son Seb, I had a stroke. I had a facial palsy, slurred speech and was paralysed down the left hand side of my body.

As an inpatient on the Stroke Unit at the Massachusetts General Hospital I decided that within a year, I would climb Mont Blanc - the highest mountain in the Alps - for fellow sufferers of facial palsy.

4 months on I have had the cause (a congenital hole in the heart) repaired and regained full function in my arms and legs. I have post stroke fatigue but am determined to reach my goal. I literally have a mountain to climb.....

Facial palsy (paralysis of one side of the face) can result from infection, trauma, ear disease, cancer and neurological disease. When no cause is found it is called Bell's Palsy. Most cases of facial palsy improve if treated promptly but in those that don't, persisting facial paralysis can cause devastating functional, aesthetic and psycho-social concerns.

Through partnership with registered charities, smilling-faces is an organisation which will raise funds for facial paralysis patients. These funds will be used to promote awareness and provide holistic and practical support to people with facial palsy and their relatives.

A link to enable donations will appear shortly but in the meantime I can be contacted via the contact page on this website.