A Donington man says he was so inspired by a local charity that he was able to stand up unaided for the first time in around a decade.
Now Mark Davis (62) is targeting walking again thanks to the Safe Places group when previously he thought his days of being on his own two feet were over.
He has a number of health issues including cerebral palsy since birth, a condition which means his movability had been slowly declining.
Mark and his then 11- and 12-year-old daughters moved to Lincolnshire seven years ago to be near his younger sister so she could help him with looking after him.
For the last 18 months he’s been involved with Safe Places based in Spalding which aims to help those with mental health issues in South Holland.
As well as group sessions and activities that aim to help build confidence in people, they put on gym sessions with the aid of the staff at Heroes Gym in Pinchbeck.
It was after one of the boxercise sessions the gym and group held that Mark suddenly realised he’d got enough to stand up without the aid of the crutches and wheelchairs he needs to get around.
“I don’t know how or why I did it,” Mark said. “It was just a moment when I just had confidence and felt strong.
“I just suddenly realised I was standing up on my own again. It was quite surreal to be honest.
“That’s what being a part of Safe Places inspires in you.
“I’ve been trying to push myself and through the charity we’ve been working out regularly, swimming and in the hydropool.
“I’ve learned that you’ve got to believe in yourself.
“When my daughters found out they went mad, they were so happy!”
From having never stood up in 10 years, Mark is now doing squats in the gym and working on climbing steps.
The ultimate goal would be to walk again.
“I’m now able to move my legs in ways I wouldn’t have dreamed of being able to do in the last ten years,” he said.
Despite his lifelong disabilities Mark has had a varied career which included spells in the navy, working with Royal National Institute for the Blind and in the printing industry as well as being a qualified chef.
However, his mental health had suffered in recent years as his mobility declined.
He was referred to Safe Places which was set up by Vanessa Browning and ran with Tonic Health and South Holland District Councillor Jack McLean.
Vanessa said: “We were shocked when we saw Mark stand up. I just gasped, I couldn’t believe it.
“Mark’s daughters text me to say thank you when they heard. They were amazed too. We couldn’t be more delighted for him.”
Mark and his family can’t sing the praises of Safe Places enough.
