I was in my late 20's when 23 of the leading UK medical specialists declared there was no hope for my recovery from a debilitating disease of the spine. I had spent every last cent I had to find a specialist who held out a hint of daylight in the shadowy no-future before me, which pointed to 6 months before a life in a wheelchair.

A black mood told me that I had only two choices: to do away with myself or fight. I was based in London at the time - without money or job. I remember walking into the Old Bailey Courthouse at the time after I heard the last hopeless conclusion of the medics - reputably the best in England. A trial was proceeding but I heard and saw nothing - only the blackness of my non - future and the pessimistic conclusions of the medics. Some days passed while I pondered my predicament. Decision time was upon me. I chose to basically ignore the conclusions of the doctors. At least the black moods were not as intense after I made the decision , but the pains in my spine went on...

Fast-forward a few years. I was teaching English to foreigners in England. I decided to visit Israel. ( The year -1980 ) I was not sure if I would ever be able to return to the UK if my condition took a down turn.

I was gambling with my deteriorating health. I did all kinds of physical jobs on the communal farm (kibbutz), and said nothing about my medical history. ( The doctors had insisted I should not do any physical work whatsoever ). Intense pain occurred and I thought - this is it - the beginning of the end. But I persisted.

After a few months I began to feel stronger and stronger. Good diet and good friends around me helped in Galilee. The years of pain were over !!. I never looked back !!

My passion for helping animals continued as always while in Israel - and the kibbutz cats could not have been healthier or happier. My life continued back in the UK; sometimes in Holland - ( the river ducks benefited !!! ) and in Spain ( I tried to alleviate the suffering wherever I found it - it was endless !!! )

In Andalucia alone there was a massive poisoning - due to the misuse of pesticides ( and indiscriminate use of rat poisons ) around the proliferation of plastic greenhouses. Hundreds of thousands of domestic animals succumbed among others.

I decided to return to the UK to set up a charity. A charity set-up in Spain would have been laughed at - as yet another scam. In 1990 , I registered the non - profit charitable company - P. R. O. B. E - Poisons Research Organisation Benefiting the Environment no. 2468692 in Wales. Soon after, I was compelled to be immersed in fundraising and campaigning to fight outbreaks such as the one in Andalucia and animal welfare in general. Fundraising was via the hard way at that time - lotteries and raffles. I published "GREEN BATTLE LINES" - as our first major public awareness gesture in the UK. The press reaction was very favourable. TV exposure followed. 14 million viewers were shocked and the government of the day shaken by Professor Richard Lacey's exposure of the Mad Cow Disease / BSE cover-up among other experts as I interviewed them courtesy of Channel 4.

Not bad for a virtual ex - cripple the doctors had given up on !! Would you agree ?? Nowadays charities can have a less stressful time fundraising than I did by looking into affiliate programs - virtually selling on commission - of publications and projects they can identify with - funds raised by internet selling. I wish these systems had existed when I started in charity fundraising. Perspectives have changed - billions are raised and traded via the internet.