The personal injury team at JMW Solicitors is preparing to take on the three-day Vine and Rhine challenge next month to raise vital funds for its charity partner, The Spinal Injuries Association.
Starting in Strasbourg, France, the cycle will see challengers travel through Germany, and Switzerland through the Alsace and onto the Black Forest – a unique corner of Europe home to natural landscapes and an array of tricky terrain.
The group of riders includes spinal cord injured people who ride handcycles or adapted bikes. The ride begins on 18 May and concludes 20 May. Covering almost 200 miles with several significant hill climbs it is a genuine challenge to complete, especially on a hand cycle.
The JMW / SIA team comprises PI Partner and SIA supporter Cathy Leech plus David Eastham and Gary Dawson from the SIA who will be taking on the challenge. Gary rides an adapted recumbent hand cycle and Dave has a bike attachment which fixes on to a sport wheelchair with hand cycle.
The event will be Cathy’s 8th cycle in support of the SIA, Cathy commented: “This is the 8th international ride I’ve done for SIA – It’s covering some hilly terrain. I’m excited about it.
“Training is going well but being from Cheshire I’m used to very flat rides, so it’s going to be different. But I’m a believer in positive thinking and I’ll relish the challenge.”
“The ride is inspirational in many ways and not just for those taking part. People with spinal cord injuries will get to see others with similar injuries taking on this immense challenge. We hope to raise over £50,000 to help the SIA with the support it gives to so many people.”
The SIA is a national charity. Their aim is to be the go-to place for everyone affected by spinal cord injury (SCI), so they can quickly connect with the vast network of people, organisations, and services they need. The organisation provides practical, vocational, clinical, and emotional support to thousands of individuals living with an SCI. They can provide peer support, counselling, nurse advocacy support with medical and nursing issues and welfare benefits as well as campaigning for the rights of their members who may be paraplegic, tetraplegic or have incomplete injuries or cauda equina syndrome. The support is life-long.
Gary at the SIA will also be embarking on his tenth cycle challenge and said: “JMW is part of SIA’s Trusted Partner Network. If there are people supported by SIA that may require legal support and advice, JMW will be available, from helping with personal injury claims or people injured due to clinical negligence. The funds raised from the bike ride will be able to spread the word even further of the work and support SIA offers through its trusted partner network.
“We’re really excited at JMW to be lead sponsor for the race. We do a lot of work with cycling organisations, so it’s a good fit. We have a strong personal injury department, and we are proud to put our name to the race and hopefully we’ll raise as much money as we can for this brilliant organisation.”
“We’ve set up a JustGiving page –https://sia-bike-ride-2023.
