On 4th October 2012, while out cycling with my friend, I was hit from behind by a car that didn't see me. I ended up on his bonnet and then roof, the car then hit a hedge which slowed it down. I then went from roof, to bonnet, to ground and luckily into a small ditch, as the car went on top of me.

The GNAAS, local doctor and fire service were close by attending another accident(which turned out to be minor), they came to my aid very quickly. I was thankfully given pain meds. I spent over an hour under the car.

This was filmed on Police Interceptors Series 5 Episode 2, if anyone wants a look!

https://www.channel5.com/show/police-interceptors/season-5/episode-2

I was taken by helicopter to the RVI where I spent 12 days. My main injuries were nerve damage to my arm, open fracture to tibia and fibula and a third degree burn from the exhaust pipe.

The brachial plexus nerve damage to my arm was the biggest concern as I couldn't use my arm, I also couldn't use crutches so I was in a wheelchair for 3 months. After 3 months I was allowed to weight bear and some feeling came back in my arm.

It was a long recovery, but I was getting there after a year, at this point I had the painful metal plate taken out of my leg. There was a 1 in a100 chance of rebreaking, yes that was me! But that's another story.

Without the GNAAS help, I would have been in much more pain and having an open fracture it was important to get me to a hospital fast. I eventually got back on my bike after 18 months, and am doing this charity ride with my cycling club, West Coast VC as a way of saying thank you.

If you can donate to this essential charity, please do.

Thanks so much, Sam