Hi, my name's Mark and In July 2023 I suffered a t12 spinal cord injury whilst mountain biking in France! I spent 10 months in hospital not really knowing what the future looked like. I started my journey in Geneva to then be transferred to kettering general, shortly after that to Corby community hospital then after a 5 month stay there I got to stoke Mandeville spinal unit. I was discharged in march 2024! Four months later I was back to work as an outreach worker for a spinal injuries charity and fully independent. Life moved on. I tried to keep up! I lost so much in that accident! Not just my legs. My identity being a big one. I knew I'd never be able to teach the boys how to play football or climb trees like I did growing up! The one thing I really need to do though is get back onto an adaptive bike and ride with them. Show them why that dirt road is where many find their peace and use it to centre themselves. I was so happy when I had all three of my kids knowing that one day we would send it as a foursome and have such wonderful days out. But that got put on hold! Indefinitely!

However...I soon learnt about a company called bowhead who make these absolutely amazing adaptive bikes that would enable me to get back out there with them! Safely. Well semi safely! However(again) as many know, being disabled is highly expensive! Wheelchairs are upwards of £6000, stairlifts, home adaptions, power add ons just to be able to keep up! It's insane. And these adaptive bikes are no exception! Now I'm not asking for much or to sell a sob story but every little helps. I'll be doing a few events in the coming months to earn my way and also raise awareness about spinal injuries! I've applied for funding from a few different places and hopefully I can combine it all and get back out there. Rediscover my identity. Learn who I am again.

Please feel free to follow my story on Instagram @disableddadof3