On October 26th 2014 I suffered a fractured spine and pelvis during a mountain bike ride. It was an unfortunate accident in that I had decided to get off my bike as the terrain was looking a bit too technical for me. Somehow I managed to stumble and fall down a slope, landing on a concealed rock with my lower back.  I was out with my husband and a friend so I wasn't alone, thankfully. When I landed I realised I had suffered a nasty injury - it was a 'bad' pain which felt like more than bruising but I hoped that's all it was. With help I managed to get up and walk around 200m whilst pushing my bike, but it became really clear that I'd done more than bruise myself and I just couldn't go any further.  I laid down at the side of the path and some kindhearted passers-by stopped to put warm layers over me as it was pretty cold. We knew that the only way to get to the nearest road was by calling Cleveland Mountain Rescue. A team of 15 arrived to help, along with a paramedic.  Between them, they got me strapped into a spinal stretcher with a pelvic splint keeping my pelvis secure. I was given pain relief and carried over a mile by the Mountain Rescue team.  They were highly organised and efficient, and did a brilliant job of keeping me calm and relaxed. The walk off was slippery and rocky so it can't have been easy. I made it to hospital warm and comfortable where the full extent of my injuries was discovered. I honestly do not know how I could possibly have got there without the help of Cleveland Mountain Rescue.

Since then I have worked hard to rehabilitate, with great support from friends and family.  I started by including some yoga and pilates in my daily routine, then progressed to walking short distances and built up from there.  Ten weeks on I have been fully discharged from hospital and had my first bike ride a couple of days ago.

I really would like to raise some money to help cover the cost of my rescue so other injured people can be made safe in the way I was. It costs in the region of £36,000 a year to run our local Mountain Rescue Team.  If I can raise at least £800 I will be happy that I have covered the cost of my rescue, for which I will always be grateful.

I decided that entering a local duathlon would be an excellent (and difficult) challenge given my injuries. I hate running, and still have another two weeks before I can begin to run again, but I will.  The standard distance duathlon consists of a 10k run, 40k cycle then 5k run. 

If you would like to contribute to this fantastic (life-saving) service, please sponsor me.  It really does mean an awful lot. :-)