In January 2009 I was involved in a serious motorcycle accident. Hit by a car, I suffered extensive damage to my left femur. At the time the emergency team who treated me were unsure whether they would be able to save my leg. Despite several major surgical procedures in the weeks after the accident, the prognosis was not good as the bone failed to heal.

In November 2009, I was referred to the Nuffield Orthopeadic Centre (NOC) in Oxford which has "a world-wide reputation for excellence in orthopaedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation". Under the care of one of their leading consultants and following 2 years of further surgery and rehabilitation they not only saved my left leg but helped me to recover almost 80% of the normal range of knee flexion allowing me to lead a near normal life. During my rehabilitation my goal was to be able to gain enough mobility to ride a push bike again and I managed to achieve this without significant modification.

However, that was not the end of the story. In May 2015 the original metal plate and associated screws, that were inserted into my leg in the immediate aftermath of the accident, failed preventing me from bending my left knee when my leg was under load. The NOC again came to my aid.

And I will need them again. In 10 to 15 years time (hopefully not any sooner) I will need a full knee replacement. The artificial knee they will need to use is so specialist that there are only a couple of places in the country that can fit them. The NOC is one.

To say thank you to the NOC and the fantastic clinical team that were responsible for my recovery I plan to raise money for the NOC Appeal by completing three personal challenges:

1. The first is to complete a 107 mile cycling endurance challenge on 26 June 2016. Known as the Dartmoor Classic Sportive (Grande) this is a road cycling event that takes place on the hilly terrain of the Dartmoor National Park in Devon (www.dartmoorclassic.co.uk).
2. The second which I added on 20th March is a 100 mile sportive in the New Forest in September 2016.
3. And the third much larger challenge will take place in 2017 and involves cycling from John O'Groats to Land's End (a total distance of approximately 1000 miles) over a period of 9 days. I will be leaving John O'Groats on 20th May 2017 (http://racedrone.net/event/mark-tootell-s-jogle-2017).

I'd love to be able to raise a minimum of £1 for every mile that I expect to cycle .i.e. £1200 and ask that you support my endeavours by sponsoring me. 

Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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