Darrell has lived with persistent chronic back pain for over a decade. Diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, nerve damage, and a bulging disc pressing on his nerves, the pain turned his world upside down. It forced him to give up a career he loved and even contributed to him having a stroke. Before pain changed his life, Darrell worked as a vehicle preparation specialist, managing the preparation of luxury cars for a small group of high-profile clients.

Like many people in pain, he found traditional treatments only partly helpful, so he began searching for other ways to cope. What he discovered through the Live Well with Pain Ten Footsteps programme inspired him to retrain and dedicate himself to helping others. He went on to set up Pain Inspired in Chesterfield, now the largest peer-to-peer pain support group in Derbyshire, and created an eight-week course based on the Ten Footsteps programme. Both the group and the course are helping people feel less alone, rebuild their confidence, and start to make small but life-changing improvements to their everyday lives.

Darrell also works closely with local and national organisations. He sits on the Joined Up Care Derbyshire pain management working party, his GP surgery’s patient participation group, and the Chesterfield Health & Wellbeing Network. He is also a Lived Experience Trainer with Live Well with Pain, sharing his journey with healthcare professionals so they can better understand and support people living with persistent pain.

What makes Darrell proudest is seeing the transformation in people who join the group, watching the isolation give way to real connection, and despair turn into hope as people discover they can live well with their pain.

Outside of his work, Darrell lives in Chesterfield and enjoys music, reading, sport, walking when he can, and catching up with friends over coffee or meals out. He’s also a devoted animal lover, especially when it comes to dogs.