Raising cash for Spinal Research by proving a host of doctors wrong...

About five years ago I broke my back whilst serving with the Army in Germany and was paralysed from the waist down. Having been told I would never walk again I stubbornly refused to accept that prognosis and set out to prove my doctors wrong. I have been lucky enough to have recovered to the use of crutches, got back onto a bike (as those on the Easter tour a couple of years ago can provide testimony to, with some pretty nifty CB500 riding if I may say so myself!) and am now off on a little challenge...

A challenge to cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats and to climb the Three Peaks along the way. 1400 miles of cycling and 11,000 feet of ascent and descent to make on the hills. I must have had 5 doctors along the years tell me that I would be "wheelchair-bound for life" or "unable to feel anything from the waist down" and the such-like... I am so keen to prove them all wrong and also to provide some hope and inspiration to others who have had accidents and are facing equally crap statements from the medical services.

The charity I'm raising money for, Spinal Research, are of particular interest to me as they are the only charity in the UK that I know are actively supporting spinal research. For me and the tens of thousands of other people with spinal cord injuries their work may provide the key to a fully active life in the future... We shall have to wait and see what happens...

For now, I'm keen to let as many people as possible know about this trip I'm off on. Have a look at my Just Giving page (Justgiving - Cycling 1400miles & climbing the 3 Peaks) to see if you can offer any support in terms of a place to crash along my route or some financial support for Spinal Research. Or to just let someone else you know who hobbles around on crutches or is in a wheelchair that there is always a way round a problem. I have met so many people who love nothing more than solving someone's supposedly impossible problem... they are out there and if you know anyone who needs a helping hand or to be put in touch with someone to come up with a cunning solution to a physical problem then drop me a line.

Cheers for reading this. Sorry if you hate these sorts of threads; you've wasted a minute of your life and I'm pretty sure that almost every motorcyclist I know has a mate or a mate's mate who is in a pretty fucked up condition. I want to help those people and to provide some support to us all that even if a pretty horrific accident may one day happen that life does continue and it can still be absolutely amazing!

Cheers, Charlie

nice one Charlie.

If a bed in North Notts (nearish Retford & vairy handy for the A1) is of use just pm.

© Editor in perpertuity-so git yr chawing hands orf moi words or ask nicely.

all the best,

a supreme effort 

O'tooles law. O'toole declared Murphy to be an optimist

Boing for Charlie - this shouldn't be getting lost several pages down, and as it doesn't look like it will get to be a sticky.

I realise many of the newer folks won't know who Charlie is, but do have a read of what he's come through and he truly is a fab chap and deserves all the support we can give for doing this!

Ilike2thinkso wrote (see)

I'm one of the newer folks who doesn't know Charlie but would love to have just half his determination. All the best for this and I'll be passing the link on.

Nice one Charlie, as others have said that would be hard work for someone who is fit.

PM me some details, and I'll donate some money, I don't have pay pal or any other way of paying other than a cheque.

im amazed your even thinking about this.i have arthritis of the spine and have had for 20yrs+ i wouldnt do it .go on m8 proove em all wrong and do it and the best of luck to ya .i hope your taking someone with you to document it .i think its a great way to show what you can do with a little determination .once again best wishes .

colven

Some minds are like concrete ...thoroughly mixed up and permanently set

UPDATE:

I'm now one day down and I strongly advise you never, ever to cycle from Penzance to Lands End to Fowey... 75 miles over the ridiculously hilly roads of Cornwall is pretty horrific tbh!!! Oh well, only two more really tough days and then hopefully it will all be a bit more sensible, at least until the Black Mountains in Wales!

Beautiful scenery down here but whilst the sweat is dribbling into your eyes for the length of some beast of a mile-long uphill stretch you don't really pay too much attention to what's going on around you!!

So... Fowey is done and just about to head off again for Day 2.

Get on lad!!!  Think you are crazy but so very very proud and impressed!

xx