Bike Challenge Fundraiser

Earlier this year we went to the aid of Nick Piper who had sustained serious back injuries whilst participating in a mountain bike event. After treating him at the scene, Team members carried him (with the assistance of other participants and event staff) to an ambulance.

By October, Nick had recovered sufficiently well to undertake a personal cycling challenge to raise funds for the Team.

Announcing his challenge on Just Giving at the time, Nick said ‘In May I had a big crash at a mountain bike race on the edge of the North York Moors which unfortunately resulted in me breaking my back in three places. Luckily for me the wonderful team from Cleveland Mountain Rescue were on hand to tend to my injuries and scoop me safely off the hill – by no means easy as I was lying on a steep slope 1-km away from the nearest road. Thanks to their efforts (and the team at James Cook hospital) I’m now fully recovered and back on the bike. Blakey Ridge is the highest road on the North York Moors, there are nine routes to climb it and I’m going to attempt riding all of them in a day – a total distance of 132-km including 2.7-km of climbing – I’m not that fit at the moment so it’s going to hurt.’

Although we also posted a follow-up article about Nick’s challenge (when some Team members popped along to Blakey Ridge to wish him well) we didn’t know then just how much Nick had raised. Well it amounted to a whopping £1,693 including Gift Aid! So, again, many thanks to Nick and everyone who donated – it was great to see him up and about on his bike and the amount raised was very impressive indeed. Thanks Nick!