Survivor of cycling tragedy Chris Dunne honours his wife's memory with Trans Pennine Way charity bike ride
A man whose wife was killed on a cycling holiday to mark their first wedding anniversary has completed a charity bike ride in her memory.
Chris Dunne, 31, was seriously injured in a crash which killed his wife, Elaine, last year.
Despite suffering injuries to his chest, head, legs, arm, shoulder, pelvis and spine he has completed a bike ride along the Trans Pennine Way.
Elaine, 30, was killed in the collision with a car driven by a 93-year-old woman near John O'Groats, Scotland, during the anniversary break last September.
****Best Deals**** Van Insurance for 17-24 Yr Old Drivers - Contact Insure365 on 01782 898188
Terms: 1 Voucher Per Customer
Contact: 01782 898188
Valid until: Friday, July 19 2013
Chris needed life-saving surgery and spent months recovering in the Young Disabled Unit at Leicester General Hospital. His injuries were so severe he had to relearn how to walk and talk.
Mr Dunne started the 150-mile charity ride last Friday – the anniversary of his wife's death – using a recumbent bicycle. It has two wheels at the front with a single wheel at the rear which allows the rider to sit back while pedaling.
He raised money for five charities, including Headway Leicester, which supports adults with brain injuries.
He also raised money for Cancer Research UK as his wife had taken part in several of the charity's Race For Life fund-raising runs.
Chris, who is now living independently in a bungalow in Glen Parva and walking with the aid of sticks, said: "The idea came about after chatting with some friends I used to go cycling with.
"I wanted to do something to take my mind off the first anniversary of Elaine's death. Our wedding anniversary was on the 18th.
"Elaine ran the Race for Life in London for Cancer Research a couple of weeks before her death."
The couple, who met through Leicestershire and Rutland Walking Group, of which Chris is chairman, were together for five years before marrying in 2010.
A stricken Chris was unable to attend his wife's funeral in her home town of Worksop, Nottinghamshire, last October.
He is due to have a driving assessment today and is going for a return to work interview next week with the electronics company in Rugby which employs him.
He said: "The cycle ride helped take my mind off everything that happened. Returning to work will help with that process.
"I wanted to raise money for Headway because they have helped me a lot."
His dad, John, said: "He has come on very well in the past 12 months. When we think of last year and the life or death situation he was in, we are very proud of him."
Chris's efforts have also raised money for Techniquest, Music for Youth and the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance.
To donate, visit: www.justgiving.com/transpennine5
Comments
by ericonabike
Thursday, September 27 2012, 6:38PM
“Chapeau Chris - met you for the first time on the Swannington Skyride.
PS - perhaps a Mercury sub could get round to changing the 'chairity' typo in the headline...”
by ericonabike
Thursday, September 27 2012, 6:36PM
“Chapeau Chris - met you for the first time on the Swannington Railway Skyride.”
by karinfall1955
Thursday, September 27 2012, 12:30PM
“@cdunne. I'll take it that was a re c u m bent bike, I love the computer censorship, it's funny..”
by hilldodger
Thursday, September 27 2012, 11:06AM
“Well done Chris from everyone involved with Cyclemagic - it's remarkable how for you have come from your first visit to us just a few short months ago.”
by cdunne
Thursday, September 27 2012, 9:22AM
“It's a good article the my only comment is it fails to mention the (now defunct) company that owns the re***bent bike, Cyclemagic. They were a very good company and closed down recently due to (amongst other things) a lack of support from Leicester City Council.”