Dear Club Members and Friends of SVCC,

As many of you know, Martyn Baker, our friend and SVCC member sustained life changing injuries following an accident, while cycling with SVCC, during a trip to Girona in September 2024. Following the accident Martyn was airlifted to hospital in Barcelona where after a lengthy operation and excellent care Martyn and his family were faced with coming to terms with him being paralysed from the waist down.

Martyn remained under the care of the Barcelona team for 5 weeks before being transferred to the RD&E by air ambulance. Under the care of our NHS Martyn started his recovery showing remarkable courage and determination and finally arrived back at his home in June 2025.

Martyn was an extremely active member of our cycling club and regularly rode with the Wednesday, Friday and Sunday groups, joined our cycling trips both in the UK and overseas and planned many of our Wednesday routes. A regular winner of the Strava Challenge Trophy Martyn was one of our strongest riders and with his enthusiasm for cycling and all things technical, sense of humour, and easy-going nature became a true friend to us all.

Martyn and Malka have been faced with significant costs for building works and mobility adaptations to allow them to remain in the home they love so much.

For all of us that know Martyn we know how important his independence is to him and as Martyn and Malka find their way through the changes that life has thrown at them, we are left wondering how we can support.

Martyn has tested out a wheelchair adaptation in the form of a powered motorised wheel that attaches to his wheelchair, lifting the smaller front wheels off the ground, and transforms the chair into a powered three-wheeler. The result is far greater mobility, independence, and the ability to explore rougher terrain with ease. This equipment would greatly improve Martyn’s day-to-day life and restore some of the freedom he has lost.

Together, we can help Martyn gain the freedom and quality of life he deserves and give something back to this amazing person who has contributed so much to our lives and club over the past years. This is where we are asking for your help.

SVCC are launching a fundraising appeal to help Martyn purchase this essential wheelchair adaptation. Every contribution, large or small, will bring him closer to regaining further independence and mobility.

Let’s show him the strength of the SVCC community.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support.

SVCC Committee