This is Ian my eldest son. At the age of 18 years he had a serious car accident which resulted in a severe spinal injury. From that day he has been a full time wheelchair user. He spent a year in Stoke Mandeville Hospital, before he was well enough to be discharged.

Whilst in hospital he was put in touch with backup charity. This is the link to their website, please take a look.

https://www.backuptrust.org.uk/

Ian says of them " Back Up were an active supporter of me during a time of great difficulty and change. I was able to take part in a multi activity week which boosted my confidence no end and enabled me to push on again towards independence and gaining my life back, barriers that had previously seemed impossible – seemed possible. " "Without the support of Back Up I may not be in the position I’m in today, fit and well and able to help others ".

Over time, with a great deal of determination and courage, overcoming obstacles most of us never think about. He had to learn to balance to put his socks on, amongst so many other obstacles he has to negotiate every hour, every day.

He has now developed a fully independent life, working full time and working one day a week back at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, supporting and inspiring newly injured patients. Ian has been training hard, over the past 3 weeks handcycling almost 300 miles. He has never hand-cycled the distance from London to Paris, 203 miles before, so this is a huge physical and emotional challenge. He hopes to raise as much as possible to support backup as a repayment for their help in those early dark and difficult days and help enable them to continue the fantastic work the charity does.

Please support Ian and give generously, help him achieve his aim in continuing the life changing work of back up. Thank you !