A SOLDIER who was shot through the head and told he would never walk or talk again will be attempting a 4K canal walk through Lincoln for military patients and their families.

Lance Corporal Dean Bousfield, who is still paralysed down his left side, hopes his fundraising feat will bring hope to other injured troops.

“It’s going to be the biggest challenge since I was injured,” said the 29-year-old hero, who was shot by a sniper in Afghanistan in July 2010 and whose family and friends were told he would die within a week.

“But I can’t wait. When I woke from my coma I couldn’t see and I couldn’t move any part of my body. I was told I would never walk or talk again yet here I am.

“I hope my story will show that anything is possible with hard work and determination.”

Dean was invited to take part in the walk after meeting fundraiser Doug Hamilton-Cox (pictured with wife Sue) at an awards ceremony in October, days after he attempted his first steps.

Doug, who has already walked from John O’Groats to Lands End in a previous challenge, is now trekking all the canals in Great Britain to raise money for military patients at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

He was so inspired by the soldier’s story that he asked him to take part in the Lincoln-leg of the canal walk, close to where Dean now lives with his girlfriend.

Doug, who has raised more than £12,000 for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity as part of his epic 4,000-mile challenge, said: “When I met him, I really took a shine to him. He’s an inspiration. The recovery he’s done and his bravery and spirit are amazing.

“I am really looking forward to walking with him,” added the 69-year-old digger driver, who is supported on his walks by wife Sue, aged 66.

The fundraising duo will be reunited at the Woodcock pub, in Burton Water, in Lincoln, on May 25. They will be welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Lincoln.

To make a donation, please visit www.dougwalking.co.uk. The pair are also fundraising for Help for Heroes.

TWO heart op brothers battled through non-stop rain to reach the top of Snowdonia in aid of patients at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Brothers Rhys and Carwyn Lewellyn took just over four hours to climb and descend Wales’ highest mountain, raising more than £1,300 for the heart transplant unit at the QE.

Rhys, aged 27, dedicated his climb to transplant surgeon Professor Robert Bonser who died last October – exactly one year after performing open heart surgery on Rhys.

“It was great,” said Rhys, who was given just two weeks to live before his successful heart transplant. “The rain came down the whole time, and we were soaked, but I was so proud to reach the top.

“I hope it will show other transplant patients that anything is possible.”

Rhys was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy – a disease of the heart muscle – at just three months old but lived with the condition for 25 years.

Then, in March 2011, he suffered a mini stroke and his condition took a drastic turn for the worst.

He was admitted to the QE where he was told he would need a transplant within a fortnight or it is likely that he would lose his life.

Fortunately, a donor was found and, in October 2011, Rhys underwent the lifesaving operation.

Since recovering, he has dedicated his life to raising funds and awareness for heart charities.

It is the second year running he has climbed Snowdonia but it was the first time for 24-year-old brother Carwyn, who also has heart problems and has had two operations to have a valve replaced.

Rhys, who works for a plumbling merchant in his hometown of Aberdare, explained: “Carwyn was too ill to do it last year because of his heart condition.

“It was great to do the climb together….especially as I beat him to the top! I beat last year’s time by 40 minutes too which goes to show what a bit of sibling rivalry can do.

“It is strange that we both have heart problems, especially as the doctors have told us they are not genetic.

 “We’re both so thankful to be back to health. We’re already thinking up our next expedition together.”

To donate, please visit www.justgiving.com/Rhysandcarwyn2013

Melanie, Sarah and Carolyn raised £1,500 from their challenge which they donated to the Royal Marines Association.

The money will go towards the RMA’s £100,000 appeal to build a multi-use games area next to Fisher House, a ‘home from home’ for military patients and their families at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. 

The games area is being built to meet the needs of patients with all levels of mobility and complements the outstanding care and treatment provided by the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine staff.

Participation in competitive sport for seriously wounded service personnel has proved to be key in building motivation and self-esteem. As everyone saw last year, some have even become elite athletes taking part in the amazing Paralympic Games.

Melanie Robinson said: “We were proud to exceed our target and present a cheque for £1,500 to Richie Puttock and Mark Ormrod from the Royal Marines Association. Mark was the first triple amputee from the Afghanistan project and the fact that he drove himself from Plymouth to receive the cheque speaks volumes about the character of those the team are supporting though the Project and the character of our military.”

To make a donation to support military patients and their families please click on the ‘donate’ button.

BookWise Solutions operates the booking screens and scheduling system in the hospital’s Education Centre. The company ran a competition with a £500 prize for the winner’s charity of choice up for grabs.

Education Centre manager Gillian Atkinson won the competition and chose to donate the money to the QEHB Charity for the liver unit.

BookWise Solutions MD Denise Williamson said: “We’re thrilled that Gillian won the competition and has chosen to donate the £500 to the hospital’s official charity to help patients on the liver unit. Using BookWise Solutions enables organisations to improve efficiency and therefore give the patient a better experience. We are delighted to be able to enhance this care further with this prize donation.”

Gillian Atkinson added: “I was amazed to hear I’d won as I tend to enter competitions and then forget about them, never expecting to actually win. I’m so happy to be able to help the wonderful liver unit team.”

If you’d like to make a donation to help patients please click on the ‘donate’ button or contact the charity team on 0121 371 4852.

Pictured above left to right are Denise, Gillian, clinical nurse specialist Cath Markham and consultant HPB and liver transplant surgeon Simon Bramhall.

We’re sure that you, or someone you know, deserves to be nominated for an award for going above and beyond the call of duty for others.

We’re therefore asking for all our supporters to step forward and make a nomination for a Birmingham Mail Local Hero Awards 2013.

The newspaper is searching for nine incredible people and two community groups to win an award.

Could you, or a friend or family member, be a volunteer hero? Do you think you could be our charity fundraiser of the year or our caring hero?

Former soldier and charity fundraiser Karl Hinett is a past winner of the award and urged people to make a nomination.

“It is a real honour to receive a Birmingham Mail Local Hero Award,” said Karl. “I would never consider myself a hero but have spent the last few years fundraising for the QEHB Charity to help the staff - my heroes - at the hospital. I’m sure many charity supporters would feel the same. You don’t do it for yourself. You are doing it to thank those who cared for you or a loved one and to help other patients in the same position as you were.”

If you know someone who deserves to be recognised all you need to do is log onto birminghammail.co.uk for more details and a downloadable form. Then write no more than 200 words on why you are nominating your hero and send it to Claire Roberts, Local Heroes, BPM Media, Floor 6, Fort Parkway, Birmingham B4 6AT.

Alternatively email claire.roberts@trinitymirror.com using the words LOCAL HEROES as your subject line.

To make a donation to support patients please click on the ‘Donate’ button or phone 0121 371 4852.

The supermarket giant is asking customers to nominate a local charity for their local store to support over the next 12 months through fundraising and volunteering.

The QEHB Charity has a number of campaigns that would benefit from the support including the QE Cancer Appeal and the £1million bid to create a Rare Diseases Centre.

Customers can nominate for one of the appeals in-store, via the Sainsbury’s website or by emailing local.charity@sainsburys.co.uk.

Mike Hammond, chief executive of Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, said: “It would be fantastic to be chosen as one of Sainsbury’s local charities.

“Their fundraising would make a huge difference to the lives of patients at the QE Hospital.

“We are urging all our supporters to please nominate us and ensure we don’t miss this brilliant opportunity.”

The scheme has been running for five years and gives Sainsbury’s customers and colleagues the chance to work together to support a local cause.

The supermarket has branches in Selly Oak, Northfield, Harborne, Mere Green, Kings Heath and Redditch.

For more details, please visit www.sainsburys-live-well-for-less.co.uk/products-values/good-causes/local-charity

Joe, Tye, Jordan, Cameron, Michael and Sebastian raised £50 by running a tombola and selling Christmas puddings at the school fayre.

The pupils gave their donation to the hospital’s official charity who will use the funds to purchase treats for the patients.

Class teacher Andrea Davis said: “The boys were keen to support the patients as we did a big project about Remembrance Sunday and the importance of looking after our troops and our veterans. They worked really hard to raise the money and were thrilled to be able to see the iconic hospital here in Birmingham where patients are cared for.”

Justine Davy, head of fundraising at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Joe, Tye, Jordan, Cameron, Michael and Sebastian for their hard work. It is due to the generosity of our supporters that we are able to continue to provide the ‘added extras’ that make all the difference to the lives of military patients and their families.”

If you’d like to make a donation to help military patients please click on the ‘donate’ button or contact the charity team on 0121 371 4852.

Did you know you can find out what we’re up to on Facebook and Twitter? Just take a look at www.facebook.com/qehbcharity and http://twitter.com/QEHBCharity.

A TEAM of fun-loving and caring expats have raised thousands of pounds for military patients and their families.

From Abba nights to horse races, from talent shows to hoedowns (pictured), the group of Brits living in La Marina, on the Costa Blanca, in Spain, have worked tirelessly for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity.

Calling themselves Triqe (which is an amalgamation of Triple Armed Forces and Queen Elizabeth), the group were inspired by Bar Stop owner Margaret Sample whose stepson served in the military.

They felt that, although troops killed in conflict were, quite rightly, honoured, there was little mention of the thousands of young men and women who came home injured.

Spokes person for TRIQE, Marion Ham explained: “Fallen military service personnel are recognised with full respect and yet to every one deceased there are often more than 20 maimed and injured, returning weekly.

“Together a few folk decided that it was about time that these souls were recognized.”

Triqe’s efforts became even more poignant when Margaret’s stepson Lance Sergeant Lee Sample, of the Irish Guards, was injured in Afghanistan and flown to the QE for treatment.

The 22-year-old was on duty when a grenade hit him taking 60 per cent of his left arm muscles and leaving him with multiple shrapnel wounds down his left side.

Following intensive treatment at Camp Bastion he was back in Birmingham within 48 hours with medics working quickly to save him from losing both his left arm and leg.

In January, Lee gave troops a boost when he returned to the hospital to hand over a cheque from Triqe.

Since joining forces, the expats have raised in excess of 8000 euros for the patients at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine.

Mike Hammond, chief executive of the QEHB Charity, said: “We are tremendously grateful to Triqe for their tireless dedication to military patients.

“Their enthusiasm and imagination when it comes to thinking up fundraising activities is truly inspirational.

“It is wonderful to think that patients in Birmingham are in the thoughts of people living in Spain.

“Thank you to all at Triqe.”

A TEAM of cricket club members are holding a charity walk to Lords to help their popular ex-chairman beat cancer.   

Grandfather Bernie Courten (pictured centre, in the red t-shirt) says he has been incredibly moved by the support of his friends at Albrighton Cricket Club, in Shropshire.

Money raised by the 155-mile walk will go towards the cost of a hi-tech CyberKnife machine at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

It is hoped the pioneering radiotherapy machine will be able to treat Bernie’s tumour which is currently being held at bay by chemotherapy.

“I am extremely proud and humbled that the club has chosen this charity on my behalf,” said the 61-year-old IT consultant, who has three children and two grandchildren.

Bernie was first diagnosed with a tumour on the base of the spine in 2008. The operation to remove the tumour left Bernie without his coccyx and part of his pelvis and took him five months to recover.

Now the tumour has returned, Bernie’s friends and family hope CyberKnife will be able to treat him without the need for further intrusive surgery.

Fundraising committee member Michelle Astbury said: “Bernie is a really lovely gentleman. He is very dedicated to the club and works really hard for us.

“When we heard about CyberKnife, it just seemed an ideal cause to support.”

The relay walk will start from Albrighton Cricket Club, in Shropshire, on Sunday, May 26, and will finish at Lords Cricket Ground, on Thursday, May 30.

Walkers hope the trek will raise £5,000 for the QEHB Cancer Appeal.

Nearly £2,000 has already been collected in online donations via a Just Giving website.

Donator Austin Haines said: “We are all batting for you and wishing you a full recovery, my very dear friend.”

Norm Elliott added: “This is a cause for all sufferers but also for a true gentleman I am honoured to call a friend.”

To make a donation, please visit www.justgiving.com/acc2mcc

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity has less than £90,000 left to reach on its £3million CyberKnife appeal.

The machine enables very high doses of radiation to be targeted directly at tumours with pinpoint accuracy.

It is a painless option for patients diagnosed with previously inoperable or surgically complex tumours.

Karl will be in the lecture theatre of the Munrow Sports Centre, University of Birmingham, on Wednesday 29th May at 6pm.

Karl, who has run 100 marathons in two years to raise funds for the charity, will be sharing his top training tips and the secrets to his phenomenal success. 

Places are limited. First come, first served. Please register your place by emailing charities@uhb.nhs.uk with Karl Q&A in the subject line.