Janet Tuck is taking on her own paraplegic mini-triathlon – swimming a mile, cycling a mile and walking a mile and is inviting you to join her at FB Fields tomorrow as she raises money for Jersey Cheshire Home and Cancer Research UK.
Jan was diagnosed with Arachnoiditis in 2007, a rare disorder that attacks the central nervous system. Four years later, at the age of 50, she lost the use of her legs.
She’s since undergone five spinal operations to try to regain movement in her legs but with the last one being unsuccessful she now uses a Parapodium – a device that she uses at Jersey Cheshire Home that helps her to safely walk forwards, backwards and even turn on flat surfaces. You can see her training with it here.
Jan said: “Jersey Cheshire Home is a fantastic facility for those dealing with challenges of varying degrees of disability. I swim here every week and love my training sessions in the gym – their facilities are great.
“But it’s much more than that, the staff and residents inspire me, it’s such a happy environment, you can hear laughter ringing through the hallways on every visit, a number of them going out of their way to shout words of encouragement as I ‘walk’ down the hallways in my Parapodium.”
Jan has already raised over £6,700 for the two charities and is well on her way to her £10,000 target, thanks to her big supporters – her bosses at Standard Bank who have donated £2,000.
Standard Bank Offshore Group Chief Executive Officer Will Thorp said: “Jan is a valued and respected member of the Standard Bank family and her professionalism at work is outstanding. The fact that she faces so many personal challenges makes her a truly exceptional and inspiring colleague.
“The whole of Standard Bank’s Offshore Group is fully behind Jan in her Ironman Challenge. Not only are colleagues fundraising but many are also joining her this weekend by choosing to ‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’. We are all immensely proud of Jan and we wish her every success in this real test of endurance.”
Jan’s big challenge starts at 11:00 this morning at Les Quennevais Pool before she heads off to FB Fields at 13:00 tomorrow for her one mile cycle and one mile walk. You can support her here.