A YOUNG West Devon man is rebuilding his life by using his interest in computers to get back into the world of work. Matthew Hanlin, has thanked Times readers for sending him old, broken or unwanted computers to work on, following an appeal he made in the paper three months ago. Matthew, 24, suffers from hyper-mobility syndrome and chronic pain syndrome, which means he has to walk with the aid of a stick. Matthew is determined to use the self-taught skills he has developed, stripping and rebuilding computers to forge a career in IT. A former pupil of Okehampton College, Matthew recently completed the new CLAIT computer cause and is now attempting to gain an ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) through courses at the town?s Ockment Centre. Matthew?s condition means he experiences periods of extreme pain in his joints and muscles, but last year, with the pain worsening, he helped turn things around when he received residential treatment on the country?s foremost pain management course at Bath. ?I was on strong painkillers, and becoming housebound; my last hope was the pain management course at Bath,? said Matthew. ?Last year, I bit the bullet and enrolled. With the amount of medication I was on and how it was affecting my behaviour, I realised I was in danger of losing my wife and she was what was keeping me going.? Matthew said the four-week course had really helped him break the cycle of pain. ?The other people on the course didn?t have the same illness, but they all had chronic pain, and it was a great help being with a group of people with similar problems.? The innovative course was made up of a small amount of exercise, which patients build up to gradually, as well as information on medicines and their effects on the body, and relaxation techniques. Matthew returned from the course with renewed optimism but there were still hurdles to overcome. ?I came back and my health was better, but I live at the top of Station Road, and slowly I felt myself slipping back into my old ways and not being able to get about. ?One day I decided that was it! I had to do something! I walked down into Okehampton, I went into the library had a look at their information leaflets and then I went to the Ockment Centre, where I spoke to Geoff Mills. ?He said if I couldn?t get funding to do the computer course, they would pay for me to do it, because I was a good candidate.? Funding was forthcoming in the shape of WestDEN?s Ley of the Land project. Matthew contacted the charity because before his condition was fully diagnosed he had begun a tree surgery course with the organisation ?they were only to happy to help support him in gaining his computer qualifications. ?I always enjoyed manual labour, You are working outdoors and it allows you the time to think about other things as you are working, but now something involving computers is my best bet of getting a job,? he said. Matthew injured his back while learning tree surgery, which accelerated the chronic pain his double joints were giving him. ?I was 17 or 18 when it happened and at that age, if you can rely on anything, you think it is your body,? he said. The intricate work of using small computer parts can be quite therapeutic, Matthew said, and he has found the computer courses at the Ockment ?really fun?. He said his condition made getting about difficult. ?Hyper-mobility syndrome is basically where the joints bend too far and the muscles can?t cope with that sort of movement. ? It wasn?t that long ago hyper-mobility syndrome was first recognised as an illness.? Now, he says, his major priority is to get into work. ?I don?t want to be on benefit, I am trying everything I can to get off it and into work, I just want to be able to have a family life and a future.? Mathew met his wife Frances, who originally comes from Austin, Texas. on the internet. He has visited his wife?s homeland, but after getting married, the couple decided to settle in Devon, which was initially something of a culture shock for Frances, Matthew admitted. He thanked everyone who had given him old or unwanted computers, but said he was always keen for more discarded items as he was hungry to learn more about how computers work. ?I have got a lot of experience on older PCs, but there are still black spots in my knowledge, on laptops for example, so any old computer technology people can let me have can still be helpful,? he said. Anyone who can help Matthew by donating old or broken computers, parts or magazines can call him on 07813 762741 or e-mail - [email protected]">[email protected]