The wife and son of a man left in a wheelchair by a serious illness are taking part in a gruelling fundraising challenge next month for the 'phenomenal' charity and its staff helping him regain his independence.

Peter Mitchell, 53, lives at the Ethos bungalows, being treated at Gobowen’s Orthopaedic Hospital but the bungalows are based in Oswestry, after he went through a life-threatening abscess in his neck, crushing his spine which was also infected by sepsis, a type of blood poisoning

Peter fought back from the brink of death with the help of the spinal injury team at the hospital but was left without movement in his arms and legs, and was discharged in autumn last year to one of Ethos’s three bungalows, which are all managed by Karen Schofield.

A mud run fundraising campaign was launched by Karen, and the venture will be joined by personal assistant Megan Edwards, Karen’s son Liam Rodway and client Peter's wife and son, Lynda and Christopher, who all got on board as a way of helping the charity.

Karen thanked them for joining in. She said: "I would like to thank everyone for joining me on the mud run and for their support.

"Peter is a wonderful client and we wish him well for the future.”

Karen, Megan, Liam, Lynda and Christopher will be tackling mud, hills, bogs, marsh land, lakes, river crossings, tunnels, walls, net crawls, water slides, trenches, head dunks, giant bales and more at the Shropshire Mud Run on Saturday, September 21 near Shrewsbury.

They are aiming to raise £5,000 to buy a standing frame, to enable Ethos clients to stand with the support they need, and help with circulation, relieving pressure to hopefully prevent pressure sores, among other advantages.

Lynda, 50, said Ethos was amazing after Peter was discharged from hospital but could not return to their home in Flintshire, as it was not suitable for a wheelchair, and the only other option was a nursing home.

She said: “We wanted to give something back for all the help we’ve had from Ethos.

“Ethos has given Peter his independence back. Karen is a God-send and all the personal assistants are amazing, they have gone above and beyond - and they have become friends.

“It was difficult to cope with what happened, and be a family, but with Ethos’s help we can be a family again. They’ve given us a future.

“I’m not a runner but I’m looking forward to doing the challenge for Ethos – and for Peter – his determination is unreal.

"At one point I was told he only had four hours to live – but now he has some movement in his arms and legs, although he is still in a wheelchair, and we’re looking for a suitable home in the Oswestry area.

“He’s come a long way and Pete will be cheering us on.”

Peter added: “When I was discharged from hospital I was worried about where I’d live and how I’d live - but I had no doubts when I came here - it’s fantastic.

“The support is phenomenal and I don’t know where I’d be if Ethos wasn’t here. It was my safety net.

“There is no other service like it, within the community, in the UK, but if it was available all over the country, the benefits would be unlimited.”

To make a donation and help the runners raise enough to purchase a standing frame, please go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/karen-schofield?utm_term=6Kv8QgVVR