The first man I met in the fellowship was a guy from my home village. I was always scared of him as he had a violent reputation. Of course now I know him better I'd trust him with my life and liberty.

Gypsy Steve has been sober since Adam was a lad. A couple of years ago he was diagnosed with a form of Leukemia.

Yesterday he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia. His blood count is through the floor, the meds aren't working, he's not kept anything down for about a week. I went to see him on the way to a meeting tonight. From the big chested, well muscled body builder he has become sort of a greyish yellow, much enfeebled, little strength, cool and clammy and his belly is swollen like a starving child's. It don't look too good.

I remember at my first meeting, he pulled a chair out and said sit here, shut up and listen. Covered in prison tats and built like a small tank, dripping with gold rings and chains he presented a fearsome sight - absolutely scared the pants off me and also was the first one to give me his phone number. He used to pushbike over from his home to meetings all over the county. His story is horrific, his recovery miraculous. I love the man to bits.

So if you could spare a God Bless for him tonight...........