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Hi just though I would post this on the forum, last August my nephew, Josh had a terrible mountain bike accident, one that all bikers dread, whilst on a professionally guided tour in Madeira which has left him permanently paralysed from the waist down, he was a keen mountain biker and the family is devastated. He is still currently receiving treatment in Oswestry spinal unit.
Josh lived for his weekends! Always a plan in place to be outdoors with friends in Shropshire or Wales on his mountain bike. Especially loving an uplift at one of the bike parks. Now life for Josh has changed massively and is in the situation mountain bikers hope they never have to face. He has to deal with it as best he can, do things in a different way and get out of life what he can. He has a long road ahead.
The Just Giving Fund has been set up by his mountain biking friends. Any monies raised will help to buy firstly a light weight wheelchair to enable him to be independent and get into a vehicle and home adaptations to meet his needs.
Josh is a determined young man and hopes to still enjoy the outdoors in a different way.
In time, funds permitting he would like to be able to be back out there with his friends on a Bowhead
Bike
YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE A DREAM!
A just giving page has been set up with his story, link below,
Posted : 16/02/2024 9:19 am
Awful story. The poor guy.
Chucked some in the pot.
Posted : 16/02/2024 10:53 am
Do you want to pick a painting that you could auction / raffle off?
Let me know which one and the address to send it to. You can see the normal price they sell for so know roughly where to set the expectations of the bidders/buyers
Posted : 16/02/2024 11:05 am
Hi @conrod just to let you know I work for a not for profit CIC and charity which helps disabled people get into the outdoors, we have a lot of adapted kit including Bowheads for people to try; Experience Community CIC (the Facebook page is a better bet than our website which needs an update...).
We are a bit outside his area (Leeds) but there aren't loads of places around for people to try stuff, so potentially we might be of use.
Posted : 16/02/2024 11:13 am
Done 👍
Posted : 16/02/2024 11:20 am
Donated,
It could happen to any of us dicking around on bikes. A very sobering story, my best wishes to Josh for his ongoing recovery.
Posted : 16/02/2024 12:42 pm
This was recently on Dragon's Den and looked a decent bit of kit for when he's ready to get out and about again:
https://www.myadaptability.co.uk/post/media-alert-game-changing-wheelchair-to-appear-on-tv-investment-show
Posted : 16/02/2024 1:34 pm
@dooosuk
This was recently on Dragon’s Den and looked a decent bit of kit for when he’s ready to get out and about again:
https://www.myadaptability.co.uk/post/media-alert-game-changing-wheelchair-to-appear-on-tv-investment-show
/blockquote>
That looks ace - but £14-20k is horrendous, being able to explore outdoors should not be prohibitive to disabled people.The cost of wheelchairs in general is bad enough - we paid £3.5k for my Wife's lightweight carbon framed every day chair.
Not wanting to hijack the thread but @riklegge I'll check out your page for my wife.
Done
Posted : 16/02/2024 11:00 pm
Happy to chuck a few quid in. All the best to Josh
Posted : 17/02/2024 8:23 am
Done and hope the target is hit. Best of luck to Josh and family
Posted : 17/02/2024 8:33 am
Done. As said, could happen to any of us.
Posted : 17/02/2024 9:20 am
Oofph. Donated. Look forward to seeing Josh out and about in the future.
Posted : 17/02/2024 11:27 am
Done
Posted : 17/02/2024 5:47 pm
Done
Posted : 18/02/2024 12:02 pm
Done. This really hits home. Ride safe everyone.
Posted : 18/02/2024 12:18 pm
Donation sent
Posted : 18/02/2024 2:31 pm
donation in, all the best to Josh!
Posted : 18/02/2024 3:51 pm
All the best, donated. This could happen to any of us.
Posted : 18/02/2024 6:34 pm
Every little helps, donated.
Posted : 18/02/2024 7:31 pm
Done
Posted : 19/02/2024 12:42 pm
Donated! Let's keep this going!
Posted : 22/02/2024 5:20 pm
Done.
Posted : 23/02/2024 12:34 pm
I will bookmark his JustGiving page, and put a few quid in on payday.
I think all of us could be in his position, and if we can help Josh get back out there - we should.
Posted : 23/02/2024 12:56 pm
Done. Best of luck to him.
Posted : 23/02/2024 1:00 pm
Having being very close to this situation before, but having a lucky escape. I sympathise and want to keep this post up there to help!
Posted : 25/02/2024 6:46 am
Hi guys
It's Josh here.
Thankyou to everyone who has donated. I'm so grateful it really means a lot. It was a really uplifting surprise to receive kind words of encouragement and donations thanks to my Uncle. It's really humbling how supportive the mountain biking community can be.
I'm just managing to hold my head above water. I've had over 3 months of gruelling bed rest after complications after my initial rehab which has been truly testing. But I received good news yesterday, that I should be able to start getting out of the hospital bed and begin the long journey of rehabilitation and learning to be more independent.
As said by friends and family. The cost of disability equipment is astronomical, it makes mountain bikes seem cheap! A lightweight wheel chair is 5k+, an attachment to become more mobile and go further distances than my arms can take me, again 5k and that's without any house modifications (stair lift, wet room, ramps etc).
So again a huge thanks to STW for your support. Please share as much as possible.
Posted : 02/03/2024 11:33 am
Keep going Josh!
Posted : 02/03/2024 11:40 am
Thanks for posting Josh and chuffed you might be leaving hospital soon. Really hope things continue to go well with your rehab. Keep going 👍
Posted : 02/03/2024 12:00 pm
The price of disabled stuff is horrific. It sells in small numbers and is fairly specific to the different user groups so there is little mass production available.
If found a place where you can borrow or rent various wheelchairs in the New Forest. It is not a long term solution but after 4 months confined to a bed, just the ability to go for a 'walk' in the woods was a huge mental boost. It was also great to be able to take it down the jump line on the gravity track.
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Downsides were limited use for normal; life, £10K+ price, uncomfortable over particularly bumpy ground and lack of involvement - you pressed the lever and it went forward while you sat on/in it.
Upsides - it was not the bed, 4 walls, window and ceiling that I have been stuck in up to that point.
Overall - Okay for the occasional treat but get the day to day kit sorted firs. That is what matters
Posted : 02/03/2024 4:20 pm
