My Story

Having watched, with enormous pride, the courage and resilience with which Brinkley has battled against multiple Mast Cell Tumours, and seen very close friends taken ill, at a time when they should be enjoying life to the max; I feel it's about time to step outside my comfort zone and give something back.

The Humanimal Trust is a charity is dear to mine and Brinkley’s hearts, as it’s sole purpose is to fuse human and veterinary medicine in collaborative partnership, for the benefit of all. As you would expect, we are particularly interested in their research into medical and surgical oncology. Everyday there are advancements and research breakthroughs in both veterinary and human medicine, yet at present, neither profession collaborates to share their information that would progress cancer treatments and therapies for the benefit of humans and animals simultaneously.

But this is not just about cancer - many will have seen the incredible orthopedic work Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick (and also The Humanimal Trust's founder) has undertaken on dearly beloved pets, which he has developed over the last ten years - and yet, these proven techniques are still not available in human medicine.

Animal Assisted Intervention is another area which the Humanimal Trust is supporting. Many will be familar with Pets As Therapy dogs who visit hospitals, care homes and schools. The therapy dog team at Southampton Children's Hospital (very local to Brinkley and myself) are researching not only the psychological ‘nice feeling’ of meeting fellow goldie cousins, Leo, Jessie, Totty and Quinn; but whether there is there a real physical impact on things like heart rate, blood pressure, and adrenaline? What about engagement and patient compliance with treatment and therapies? And what impact does all this have on the recovery of a patient? I know for sure the calming effect and unconditional love that Brinkley gives me - and this research, funded by the Humanimal Trust, will hopefully prove the incredible emotional and healing powers of our canine companions, and enable greater interaction between human healthcare professionals and the amazing volunteers of the Pets as Therapy teams, across the country.

The old saying "two heads are better than one" is never more true. Surely collaborating, joining forces, sharing research, surgical techniques and care plans has got to advance human and vetrinary medicine, quicker, more efficiently and with better outcomes to both animals and humans. This is why I am doing the most crazy thing I've ever done in my life, and abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower. For Brinkley, for friends and family past and present, who I love, I hope this raises a decent amount and makes a difference to someone out there .... and to those who are generous enough to sponsor me ... thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means a very great deal more than you realise. xxx