Three points can make me walk taller and for longer

I’m 38 years old, I have Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, and right now I’m in the “transitional period” between walking and being in a wheelchair (which I obviously want to avoid!). I’m also a Leeds United fan who does a 330-mile round-trip to Elland Road every other week.

So why go to the hassle if you’re impaired or have a disability or condition that should stop you? Because you just can’t beat it, can you. Getting up early, slipping the shirt on, the anticipation, the journey, the songs, the pre-match pint and the smell of the pies!

The Square Ball Week - The City Talking

The words you need to read this week come from a Leeds fan called Martin Hywood.

“I cannot be beat, I have to fight my hardest to do the things I love with the people I love. Every life is worth every effort to live it to its fullest and I’ll do that with my friends, family and my Beloved Leeds United.”

We could probably just stop this column there. That’s all for this week, folks. Martin’s said it all. See you next time.
We can’t leave it there, though. For a start, you still have to read the rest of Martin’s article on Right In The Gary Kellys. Martin has muscular dystrophy, and next time we are tempted to describe a Leeds’ performance as ‘painful to watch,’ we’ll remember Martin’s description of entering The Peacock on a match day:

The Day Ken Bates Called Me

So I had an idea, I wanted to raise awareness of my condition and also the dedication of Leeds Utd Fans, me being one of them.

I went on to write an article that was published by RITGK and that was supposed to be it.  I aimed at sitting back and seeing what people thought. Maybe I was expecting one or two comments…

It has been an amazing week! I have been inundated with Facebook replies, Twitter messages and e-mails from all over the place. There have been messages of support and so much, er, appreciation that I’m really humbled by what’s been said to me or about me.

For the love of Leeds

I’m Martin Hywood,38 years old, married to Michelle, father of three great girls, from Aylesbury in,Bucks and… a Leeds Utd Fan!

Saturday 31st March, Game day…

This is not your regular supporter’s story; this is about me, a supporter who is disabled, in a transitional period from able-bodied to wheelchair. I was diagnosed with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy aged 23 years old. I was always slow when I was a kid, rubbish at football and could not get my head round why! Then after I dislocated my knee at work and knowing my older brother having back problems,  a biopsy was done and it was discovered – this God-awful muscle wasting condition that will eventually lead to major paralysis and the obvious after that.