Richard Cheshire's Handbike

Hi I'm Richard Cheshire and I'm 21yrs old.

About two years ago I was working as a lifeguard and lived an outdoor life close to Sherwood Forest.

One morning on the way to work I was propelled from my motorbike after hitting a pothole and landed into a fence. It was confirmed that I had a spinal injury of T2-T3 leaving me paraplegic and in a wheelchair for life. After surgery to repair my spine, I had a long trawl to get up and into the chair.

Nothing in life could have prepared me for this at all.

It was very frightening not knowing what was in front of me. Thanks to the Back Up Trust and the hospital staff, my family and I came to terms with what had happened, they supported me and they helped me adapt to wheelchair life.

After I left the hospital I went back to reality, the gym and my new home.  I soon passed my driving test, I have lived independently ever since and have recently made it into my local basketball team.

As I could not go back to my old job, a role became available on the booking desk for the company I used to work for. My main goal now involves helping people who will be in the same position as I was when I had my injury.  Like me, they won't know what to expect and I hope to help them in the same way I have been helped in the past and I know I will continue to be helped in the future.

One thing that has been a constant struggle for me since the day I left the spinal unit is getting back to the outdoor life that I had previously loved. I currently make do with a small adaptation for the front of my chair.

I recently went to a mobility show, I was lost in all of the ingenious ideas of making life easier.  One thing caught my eye was a chair that seemed to be made for my personal needs. The inventor allowed me to demonstrate in the chair, which could deal with all types of surfaces.

The inventor has since allowed me to use the chair around my local area. It was a brilliant feeling to go to the places that I had not been able to revisit and almost forgotten about, even if it was only for a days trial.

I want to raise £2,500 to be able to buy the new chair.  Any extra I receive I plan to donate to the http://www.backuptrust.org.uk/Home

I have been saving up for a while but it seems like a distant dream. When Marta Vernau and Lydia Cargill told me they would be happy to help me in any way they can after a charity climb of Mount Snowdon (which I highly recommend) I jumped at the chance. I have currently got my heart back into my training and I hope to take part in the 105 mile Coast to Coast route next year, http://www.backuptrust.org.uk/site/BACK/Templates/General.aspx?pageid=314&cc=GB allowing me to give something back to the http://www.backuptrust.org.uk/Home after all the help they've given me.

I have decided to take part in the Glasgow half marathon, on Sunday the 2nd of September, Lydia and some of her colleagues will be there to support me, I have already begun training on another hand bike, practicing up to 11 miles at a time.

Any donation is much appreciated.

Thank you very much

Richard Cheshire