A NATIONAL charity has chosen 23-year-old Charlene Bell as its Carer of the Year after hearing of the work she does for 34-year-old tetraplegic Jon Harris in Shipton Bellinger.

Charlene, who originates from Tidworth, spent five months looking after Jon's needs without a break but it was when she followed him to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico as part of a fundraising effort in aid of the charity that Jon decided to nominate her.

"After the person who said they would support me dropped out she volunteered to come with me to help," said Jon. "It meant she was getting up at 4am to get me ready and not going to bed until 1am."

Jon achieved his goal of hand-pedalling the 250 miles across one of the world's hottest areas and, in partnership with his brother, raised £5,000 for the Regain charity which cares for those injured as a result of sporting injuries.

Jon broke his neck as the age of 25 when he was riding on land near Tidworth and was thrown over the handlebars of a motorcycle.

Regain, the only charity dedicated solely to those who become tetraplegic as the result of sporting injury, purchases electric wheelchairs and voice-activated computers to help improve mobility and independence.

Charlene's award came totally unexpectedly at a sports award luncheon at Lon-don's famous Dorchester Hotel. For the full story see Friday's Andover Advertiser