Dan Eley’s Ride for Research 2012

On New Year’s Day 2010, Dan Eley broke his neck in a diving accident, whilst working in Colombia as a teacher.  Dan was injured when he dived in to a deceptively shallow river in the Amazon, breaking his neck at the C4/C5 vertabrae and leaving him paralysed from elbow level down.

Dan recalls: “The time following my accident could be described as the most hellish of my life.  After fighting for my life in a hopelessly under equipped public clinic, I was transferred to Bogota and treated for my injuries and infections, before being flown back to the UK.  I spent the next year in hospital.”

On 9th January 2012, Dan began his challenge to cycle 550 miles using his FES bike, which uses electric stimulation to contract the major muscles groups in the legs, the quads, the hamstrings and the gluteus muscles and stimulates the muscles in a sequence that creates a cycling motion;

“I invested in an FES bike shortly after my accident to help me to maintain muscle tone and prevent atrophy and also to increase my cardiovascualr conditioning, as it stimulates the heart and lungs to work harder.  On a typical day I can do about seven miles.”

Dan will also complete some of the challenge using a hand cycle. To find out how Dan is doing and follow his progress, click this link http://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_1692578.html

Dan’s virtual Ride for Research will see him cover the equivalent distance from Spinal Research HQ near Guildford to The Queen Elizabeth Spinal Injury Centre in Glasgow.  It will take several months to complete and he is aiming to raise £10,000 by taking on this immense challenge and you can help Dan to achieve this by sponsoring him at www.justgiving.com/DanEley or by texting DANE88 followed by your donation (£1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10) to 70070.

Dan Eley’s Ride for Research from Fish Star Media on Vimeo.  Directed and edited by Verster du Plessis, Fish Star Media.  With thanks to Nick McLachlan, Minicams.

Could you join him?

We are looking for other people who have been paralysed by spinal cord injury to join Dan in a virtual Ride for Research and raise vital funds for our work into spinal cord repair.  If you have access to an FES bike or hand cycle, you could create you own route or why not cover the equivalent distance from:
• your home town to a Spinal Injury Centre
• your home town to Glasgow’s Spinal Injury Centre
• one section or more of Dan’s route or join Dan for the entire journey.

Find out how you can be part of Team Spinal 2012!  Contact Jo on 01483 89 87 86, send her an email or sponsor Dan at www.justgiving.com/DanEley.

Watch the coverage of the launch by BBC South Today, here: