Help me play in the UP disability tour.

Hey, thanks for having a read through my go fund me. My names Andrew. Im a pool player from Durham.

Ive played pool as long as i can remember. But way back in the early 2000's i began having a few back issues. I was diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease (also known as oesteoarthritis) in my spine. It was mainly affecting my lower vertebrea at that time. Skip forward a few years and i could barely stand due to the pain.

By 2010 i have had multiple operations in an attempt to aliveate the pain but nothing worked. Parts of my spinal bones shaved off to correct the damage, Multiple epidurals for pain relief then finally a full fusion of L4 L5 and S1 vertabrea. This involves putting metal rods into my spine. A metal cage around the bones, fusing the bottom 3 vertabrea to my hips and allowing a bone graft to grow around the metal to support the back.

Sadly it still took me 5 years to recover, as due to complications i was unable to walk. Bedridden then progressing into a wheel chair, crutches, back brace then learning to walk again. It was a tough few years.

I finally got myself back on my feet and started playing pool again. Sadly i struggle alot with the pain of playing. Breaking, holding a rest and reaching are all difficult for me but i still try.

Unfortunatly this isnt a disease that can be cured and the rest of my spine is failing. Its just a matter of time. Currently im now getting increased pain in the bones above my last operation. As it progresses i will require the next vertebrea fusing.

This hasnt stopped my love for pool though. And i still try to compete as best as i can. I play in many local leagues against fully able bodied players but sadly I do struggle.

Thankfully Ultimate Pool have started a disabled tour and due to my back problems I have been accepted into it. It will still be tough but i want to give it my best. The tour comes with the bonus of possibly managing to appear on one of their tv platforms - up tv. Youtube. Etc..

This is a geat oppertunity for me to compete at my own level and im eager to get started.

The tour however, is fully self funded. And with 4 events each spead over 3 days at different venues around the north west its not a cheap thing to play in.

Because of that ive started this page to hopefully try to raise some funds to assist me in giving this ago.

For many years ive wanted to give the IPA tour a go. Even though its way out of my league, i would of loved the chance to play in it. But i could not justify the money for the little pool i would play.

But now there is a disabled tour thanks to UP i feel i actually have a more realistic chance of competing with people who suffer the same type of issues around the baize as i do. And allowing me to play the game i love at the next level.

And thats my story. Thanks if youve read it this far i understand its a lot to read.

Any donation no matter how small would really help me. Im unfortunatly not good enough to get sponsorship. Looking at costs i believe ill need around £400 per event so every penny helps.