Two years ago, Rae (Mohammed) Saleem, (aged 42 from London) was involved in a cycling accident that paralysed him from the neck down (c3/4 and c5/6), with a broken nose and facial injuries, external and internal skull fractures and neuro damage. This month (September 2019), marks two years since that accident, and he is about to get back on his bike for the first time for what will be longest bike ride of his life, 55 miles London to Brighton (organised by Skyline events) for WheelPower, on the very same mountain bike that has been stored in his garage during his recovery for the past couple of years.

This is his story…

Father of three, Rae Saleem, joined WheelPower as a participant at the Inter-Spinal Unit Games 2018 from Stanmore Spinal Unit after sustaining a C2/3 and C5/6 incomplete injury.

Talking about the lead up to his accident, ‘I was 118kg (18st, 260lbs) at my heaviest weight, and decided it was time to get healthy and fit, I had spent a lot on a bike with it just being left in the shed’ he jokes.

On the 12^th Sept 2017, Rae decided to go for a 20km bike ride, and although he was tired he felt fine, so visited his local gym afterwards.
Whilst riding there, just around the corner from his house, his bike sped down the hill a little too fast, trying to slow down he clipped the curb and mounted the pavement into a bush. Rae went head over the handle bars and landed on the concrete pavement face down, with his legs thrown up over the back of his head, where he suffered severe facial injuries, a cracked skull and a broken neck.

Rae was fortunate enough that one of the first people that came to his aid was a nurse who knew exactly what to do and refused despite his pleading to move him but kept him as he was and called the Emergency services, keeping him conscious. 

He was taken to Barnet Hospital in the first instance, where his injuries were deemed too complex and was transferred to the Royal London Major Trauma Unit, where nurses and doctors told him he was initially lucky to be alive as his breathing was getting more shallower due to the nature of the injury and the time it has taken.  The news then came that he was lucky, it seems he would be able to eat and breathe unaided, however, is paralysed from the neck down and would not be able to walk again. 

‘That was so shocking to be told that, given what I thought was a simple bike accident’, admits Rae. 

Rae began his journey as a quadriplegic. Towards the end of his spell at Royal London he suddenly started to feel some movement coming back in his left foot.

‘It was such a surreal moment one that I hope I will never forget as we take all these movements for granted.  From then I was determined to prove the naysayers wrong’, he says, ‘I even attempted to do exercises in the hospital bed so that my body would attempt to remember movement. It was like a ‘Rocky’ movie’ jokes Rae. 

By July 2019, after almost 2 years in recovery and rehab, the unthinkable happened, and Rae was back up on his feet and walking.  He attempted and completed his first 10k run for a Sri Lankan charity helping inter-faith rebuilding. 

Rae’s story is a truly inspirational one and is a perfect example of how adversity can be overcome with a positive mindset.

Since his revolutionary life-changing experience, Rae has had to change career path to fit into his new lifestyle. ‘I used to be in Information Technology (IT), however, since rehabilitation I have never regained the full fine motor skills that I used to have for dealing with fast keyboard typing, quick note taking and technical skills’. So, he switched to Medical Scientific work. ‘It’s really interesting, and wonderful seeing the work I produce helping others in hospital’. 

Rae has been so grateful to WheelPower for the help and support that he has actively become involved in supporting the cause. Rae supported the Charity in 2018 by raising £1,500 by asking for donations through Facebook for his birthday. ‘I was astounded’, exclaims Rae, ‘especially as at that stage I was not able to do much to raise funds, I thought we’d raise £200 at best, but family and friends have been incredibly generous, and we wouldn’t have raised so much without their help.  It was here I was inspired and thought the next time it would be great to train for an event!’. 

‘I was so amazed with how the Inter-Spinal Unit Games adapted so many sports for those in wheelchairs and others not fully able. I enjoyed trying out wheelchair cue sports, cricket and wheelchair javelin. It has triggered a desire to want to do more, and help this worthwhile Charity to transform lives’, comments Rae. He went on to volunteer for the Mix96 Tour de Vale Charity Bike Ride 2018 – Buckinghamshire’s biggest bike ride and support WheelPower in their 70^th year anniversary. 

He reflects on his experience, ‘It’s amazing how surprised you feel when you look back at how you were paralysed and then acknowledge where you are now and how much you have achieved. The whole experience has given me a new perspective on life’, says Rae. ‘I’ve also achieved my goal of losing weight and am now at 70kg (losing over 45kg) and my muscle mass has changed’.   Still experiencing nerve pains and adapting to how the right side of the body is now the weaker side to the left whereas before the accident it was the other way.  ‘Although it’s natural to want to be ‘normal' you have to take time out and be truly grateful for how far you have come, especially after the initial diagnosis’.

Ultimately, Rae now faces his biggest challenge this month both physically and psychologically – getting back on the very same bike that paralysed him to tackle the London to Brighton Cycle Ride 2019 on Sunday 15th September 2019 to raise funds for WheelPower. 

After everything I have been through the doctors told me that the first 2 years is crucial to my recovery.  That’s why I have literally given everything I have got to get this far in terms of my health and cannot forget the various support I have received along the way.

I wanted to do something to mark this 2-year recovery, give something back and the fact that this bike ride has come up so close to my anniversary seemed poetic.  Also, importantly to show others going through similar issues that you can get through this!  I think it’s important we all try and get inspiration from as many sources as possible as I have and am truly grateful throughout this journey.

I understand it costs WheelPower approx. £550 to put one participant though the Inter Spinal unit games and I would dearly love to fund at least one participant from this ride to help someone else on their journey to recovery as I note these injuries can happen to anyone, active, non-active, old or young.

‘It’s quite a scary but equally an exciting prospect, I’ve never had to face a challenge like this before in my life. It’s quite ironic this event comes exactly two years after my incident, that’s why I picked it – and it ticks the box.  My overall aim is to stay on the bike this time!!!’, jokes Rae.

WheelPower wish Rae the very best of luck on his

London-Brighton Cycle Ride.

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