Peggy Hughes

In March 2009, Peggy was struck down by Transverse Myelitis. Within an hour she went from perfectly healthy to being totally paralysed waist down. TM is very rare and there is no reason why it strikes. It is a similar condition to MS but, as in Peggy's case there is often no reason why it should afflict a particular person. Peggy was in hospital for 8 weeks both in London and in New York where the illness came on. Peggy has learned to walk again and she is an inspiration to others, smiling and being positive about her recovery despite constant and severe neuropathic pain. Peggy still has many other residual issues including a lack of balance, bowel and bladder problems and tiredness but you would never know it to look at her. As far a being a local hero is concerned, Peggy has helped establish a TM Support Group in the south east and raised many funds for the TM charity. If nominated she would endeavour to raise additional funds for the charity and also and more importantly raise awareness of her rare illness. Peggy has always said that she must have contracted TM for a good reason as it affects just one person in a million each year and now her aim is to help others with the same illness who are suffering as she did. I believe she would make an admirable torch carrier for the Olympics Games in 2012 and I know she would love to do it and it is her greatest wish in the world, apart from being completely recovered from her illness of course.