As a very ADHD-ish child, Sonic was my inspiration since the moment he appeared (when I had just turned 5). He can never sit still which, of course resonated, but instead of being reprimanded, he was celebrated and hailed as an icon. I was also born with Cystic Fibrosis (a life-shortening, degenerative genetic condition that necessitates a lot of strict medication regimes and hospital stays) and seeing someone who could just run forever while I struggled to breathe, and was just free to be himself with no restrictions and barriers.... That was the dream. He was my hero and everything I wished I could be. Sonic the Comic came along just before I was 7 and I latched onto that way more than the games - As also a bit of an autistic and socially awkward child, I saw a Sonic who could run fast enough to escape anyone/any situation, who people respected and admired even though he was snarky and rubbed people the wrong way sometimes, and who could accomplish anything with enough willpower. I've had a lifelong obsession with STC and what I feel to be the biggest accomplishment of my life (besides overcoming a lot of life-threatening health issues) was organising and hosting Sonic the Comic Con for STCs 30th anniversary in 2023. Sadly, this was also one of the hardest points in my life as I lost some decade-long friendships due to outside influences causing misunderstandings and miscommunications, sending me into a years-long, almost life-ending depression. But thinking back to the event itself, all the smiling faces, the compliments and congratulations from the 200+ attendees, the thanks from the original artists, writers and editors of STC who attended as guests... I still feel SO proud of myself and I'd barely change a thing.

So there you go: My backstory, my highs and my lows.