BROKEN BUT NEVER BEATEN with ANDY RUSSELL

- a supreme example of courage and optimism -

You're 21 years old. You captained the football team at school, were accepted onto a university degree course where you study, socialise and, of course, play football. Gratitude for the happiness and smooth course that life has shown you up until now is natural but not over-rated, its just there, at the back of your mind.

Then suddenly, one day, life attitudes, the experience of existence, all change for ever, and living becomes a fundamentally different practice. Imagine how that feels can you? Can you imagine if every daily task, every chore and activity needed to be relearned, or possibly forfeited, as you find yourself living in a body you no longer know.

It happened to Superman, Christopher Reeve, and it happened to Andy Russell. As the result of an experience that lasted for just seconds, Andy's way of life changed forever. He swam, he dived too deep and he was paralysed.

The air ambulance came quickly and the medical intervention was first class. But the damage was already done, a spinal injury that put Andy in traction in the National Spinal Injuries Centre for a number of months as he embarked on a long and intensive programme of rehabilitation. Unable to feel anything much from the neck down, it was only when a wheelchair was delivered to his bedside, with his name on it, that reality started to sink in.

Seven years later Andy has a full time job, living and working in the City. He runs his own home, uses London Underground for his daily commute, and any spare time is filled with friends and adventures. He has long since completed his degree, worked for 2 leading corporate companies, been skiing, climbing and fundraising to name but a few of the remarkable achievements of a young man whose prognosis is permanent paralysis. "I never thought I would spend five minutes in a wheelchair, let alone rely on it for the rest of my life. No one knows what lies in store for them. My life is more difficult now but I find a way through most things and for the most part am simply living the life of any normal guy in their late twenties."

Andy's story so far has already served to inspire many young people it gives insight into a way of life that thousands of families face each year. His courage, his total absence of self-pity and his optimism are second to none. If you listen to Andy and take a look into his world, you will be shown the strength of the human spirit and the capacity it has to heal.

For further information, or to book Andy, please call me, Alex Corkran, on 07790364784, email springback@homecall.co.uk I look forward to hearing from you.