Hello, I’m Leanne and I’m trying to raise some money to help Dave get his hip replaced, lose the limp you have seen him develop over the years and continue to work in the industry he loves.

Some of you might not know that, despite his adventurous spirit and positive outlook, in 2021 Dave was told he would need a total hip replacement due to arthritis. In true Dave style, he carried on with his active life despite being in pain with every step he took.

He has NEVER let this hold him back. Since his diagnosis, Dave has continued to walk the festival & events fields for work each year, completed a triathlon of Lands End to John O’Groats (paddleboard, walked back and then cycled the other way again) raising money for charities as he went, walked to raise money for an Altzheimers charity, climbed the highest mountain in South America, walked the Portuguese Camino (twice) and qualified as a yoga teacher - which are all incredible for someone who is able bodied, let alone someone who struggles with pain all day. Every day.

But now it’s too much, even for him. He is registered disabled with a blue badge because even walking the supermarket is too much. He is regularly using a wheelchair on days out because the pain is too intense for him to stand for even short lengths of time. The job he loves is becoming almost impossible with the pain he is now experiencing.

So what’s the solution? Dave needs his hips replaced. Both of them. But this is a lengthy process, especially on the NHS. We all know how stretched our wonderful system is and to have a replacement on the NHS Dave would have to wait for at a further two years. Not only would this mean he would be in pain for another 24 months, but it would probably leave him unable to work until then. Potentially unable to walk.

Here is where he needs our help.

There is the chance to have this procedure done privately but the cost is huge - especially because shortly afterwards he would need to have the second hip done, DOUBLING the price.

In the UK this would cost £14,500+ JUST for the operation, no aftercare or physio.

So Dave is looking to bring this cost down and fly to Eastern Europe to have the procedure done abroad, which brings the price of one hip down to £10,000 (incl. flights, accommodation, physio and aftercare).

I’m essentially asking anyone who has known, cared for or even been mildly amused by Dave to donate anything - however tiny or huge - towards this procedure and therefore giving him back the life he has worked so hard to live. To give him the chance to walk whilst he is young, to continue to help his family and to continue to be a reliable colleague in your festival fields.

Leanne x