"Two wheeled rehab" sees crash survivor cycling to Paris for charity that helped save his life

Next week Chris West will be riding to Paris for charity - a tough feat for a cyclist, but not a totally remarkable one - what will mark Chris’s ride out though is that he has defied medical opinion to make it - and cycling has helped him to do that.

Six years ago Chris West was in a coma in Southampton General after a horrendous car crash in which he was a passenger.  Doctors warned his parents Sarah and Gary their 16-year-old son might not survive his massive head and internal injuries.

“We were told even  If he lived, his brain damage indicated he’d either be bed-bound or in a wheel chair,” says Sarah, “and he’d be highly dependent for the rest of his life. “

Next week, Chris will happily prove those warnings wrong as he sets off from his home village of Downton in Wiltshire on a charity ride to Paris.  The last six years have been a battle, but cycling has been a major road to recovery.

“It’s given me all my therapies wrapped up in one, and something I really enjoy,” says Chris.  “Rehab on two wheels!”

If you would like to support Chris on his ride you can do so via his Just Giving page.

William Buglass is part of the team organising Chris’s fundraising  trip to Paris 27-31st of May.

“He did the last mile of a ride back to our welcome reception when we returned from a similar fundraising ride 3 years ago.  His balance was shot because the crash left him with vision problems in his left eye, limited strength on his left side and hearing difficulties.

“But afterwards he kept on biking with the team and spinning with his support workers – and came with us to Paris a year later doing as many miles as he could. 

“As far as we were concerned, he was just one of the lads.”

“I loved France and the countryside,” says Chris, “the food was brilliant.  Next time I’ll try oysters.  Or snails.   And this time I’ll be doing the whole ride.”

“When I saw him off last year at Portsmouth for the crossing to France, “ says his mum, “it was the first time he’d been without family or support workers.  Gary and I were on standby to go and pick him up from Caen the next morning. 

“But we didn’t need to.  The team treated him as a fellow rider, not a head injury case. 

“They gave him no quarter – and suddenly he was  a real part of a team. 

“He went out a boy and came back as a man.”

His parents had fought hard to have appropriate rehab for Chris including occupational, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy.  He had specially trained support workers, and his close family helping him 24/7.  He had to endure further operations, including a further one on his skull.

His physiotherapist’s scores under Hi-MATT (High Level Mobility Assessment Tool) show his physical improvement.  His latest test showed a good improvement on Chris’s fitness, balance and stamina.

“What struck me,” says physio Gerry Harlow, “was more his attitude.  He’s changed in terms of outlook, commitment and confidence.”

His support workers have also seen the transformation from Chris’s time on the road. 

“He was on Cloud Nine when he came back from France last year,” says Abigail Nash, “and decided to give a speech to everyone at the welcome home pub do.

“He wouldn’t have chosen to do that before.  And his speech was graceful and spot-on.  I think he had started seeing himself as Chris, a much-welcomed part of a team, rather than Chris the victim of a head injury.”

“It’s improved my life in so many different ways,” says the man himself.

“My confidence has improved, I’ve lost weight, I’ve met new people and meet more as I carry on.

“When I cycle to Paris at the end of May I’ll be doing the whole journey and raising funds for BASICS Hampshire – who sent out a volunteer emergency doctor at the scene of my accident.  She was the key part of the chain who helped save my life.

“But I’d like to add this.  For anyone who likes cycling and is in rehab as I am, I would seriously suggest going on the road as it puts all the rehab into one – and gives you such a good time.”

“I know I owe my life to so many people,” says Chris, “including the emergency services and the hospital team.

“But I especially remember the volunteer critical care doctor who kept me alive at the scene. I’m raising funds for the charity that kitted her out.”

If you would like to support Chris on his ride you can do so via his Just Giving page.