From Pain to Purpose: a Duathlon for Alberto

November 13th 2022; a date that will forever be etched in my memory. That was the day my life took a sudden, unexpected turn. Alberto and I were both 2 weeks away from graduating from our master's degrees and were happily contemplating what the rest of our lives had in store for us. But our dreams were shattered when a reckless driver veered on the wrong side of the road and we were involved in a devastating motorcycle accident that left us both with life-changing injuries. I was mangled from the waist down, with numerous fractures, dislocations, deep wounds and torn ligaments. Alberto was less fortunate, as he suffered a traumatic brain injury that has had him in a coma ever since. He is currently in a hospital in his native Madrid, where his family attend to him every day in the hope soon wake up.

The last five months have been a blur of hospitals, surgeries, and rehabilitation. I was hospitalized for 7 weeks during which I had 8 surgeries. For the first 5 weeks, I was completely unable to move from bed. After that, I was able to slowly start transferring into a wheelchair to begin my rehabilitation process. Due to the severity of my injuries, I continued to be wheelchair-bound for another 2 months after that point. Thanks to the support of my healthcare team, my family and friends, and my own determination, I've made significant progress in my recovery. I am now able to move around using crutches and have gained full independence in my day-to-day life.

Alberto's journey has been much harder, and his family has incurred enormous expenses as a result of his medical care. That's why I am committed to doing a sponsored Duathlon to raise funds to help alleviate some of the financial burden on his family, whilst challenging myself to continue overcoming my bodily injuries. On June the 1st, I will cycle 70km followed by a 2km sea swim. I hope you will consider supporting me in this endeavor. Your donation, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in the lives of those who are struggling to cope with aftermath of this tragic accident.