A bit about me:
On the 6th of May 2022, my dad was involved in a devastating motorbike accident in Whanganui, New Zealand.
A mechanical fault caused the bike to accelerate unexpectedly as he tried to slow down around a roundabout. He struck the curb at high speed and was thrown from the bike, suffering catastrophic injuries to his neck and spine.
I was thousands of miles away in the UK when I got the call from my sister.
I was told it was unlikely he’d survive. Through tears and a cracking voice, I said goodbye to my dad over the phone as he lay in a coma, unsure if he could hear me. I told him I loved him. My mind raced with all the things I wished I had said, the moments we’d never shared. And I was overwhelmed with guilt for being so far away, and perhaps, for not always being the son I wanted to be.
And somehow—miraculously—he pulled through.
Three years on, he’s still fighting.
Basic things we take for granted have been taken from him. He now uses an electric wheelchair he controls with small hand movements. He has limited head, neck, and arm movement, and is mostly paralysed from the chest down.
His progress in rehab has been slow, made harder by the fact that his current accommodation isn’t equipped for the intensive rehabilitation he needs.
The time he spent at Burwood Spinal Unit in Christchurch gave us hope. Their staff, expertise, and facilities helped him make measurable progress, but that kind of specialised support is limited and expensive.
On 13th July, I’ll be competing in a Half Ironman and I’m dedicating my race to raising funds for the New Zealand Spinal Trust, which supports Burwood and others living with spinal injuries. They aren’t government-funded and rely on donations from people like you and me to continue their life-changing work.
If you’re able to offer support, please consider donating.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Every contribution means the world.
