A Sunderland supporting family will step up their campaign to bring their husband and father home this weekend with a charity walk.
Father of two, John Lindsay, who is now in a care home in Peterlee, fell down the stairs at his home in Silksworth after a family day out, hitting his head and causing an instant fracture in his neck.
While it was originally feared John would be paralysed from the neck down, John’s mobility has continued to improve and now his condition sees him paralysed from the waist down but in need of 24-hour care.
John’s wife, Claire, is now hoping to raise £300,000 to find a house that can be adapted to meet John’s specific needs so he can move in.
Friends and family of John will walk from John’s care home in Peterlee to the Stadium of Light ahead of Saturday’s match against Sheffield United.
The 12-mile walk will begin at 7am from The Hawthornes in Peterlee (SR8 5UP) and should take four hours. There will be three stops (details of which can be found, here) along the way so if you aren’t able to walk the whole distance feel free to join in or finish at one of the designated areas.
Everyone is welcome to take part and the aim is to reach the Stadium of Light by 12.30 for the 3pm kick-off. Refreshments will be made available along the way.
Speaking about the walk, Claire said: “Our story began in 2006. John was a family man, he was hardworking and had his own business. One day completely out of the blue he collapsed at home.
“He had a huge seizure and was in an induced coma for five weeks so I never spoke to him. He continued to have seizures while he was in intensive care.
“He didn’t know who I was and at the time I was pregnant with our first child. He forgot all of that and we were due to get married but we had to cancel.
“His memory was just so bad and he continued to have seizures as well.
“10 years on, we had a family day out with our daughter who was nine, John went upstairs and as he was walking he suffered a seizure and fell backwards.
“He broke his neck and couldn’t move from the waist down,” she continued.
“Our problem now is that we can’t get him home because he is in a wheelchair. We have steps up to the door and the interior just isn’t big enough for his ongoing needs.
“That’s why we have set up the campaign to ask for the public’s help to raise funds for an adapted bungalow for John’s needs.”
For more detail or if you are interested in taking part, head to the Bring John Home Facebook page.
Alternatively, if you would like to donate you can do so by visiting their JustGiving page.
