Paralympian crowdfunding new trike after thieves destroyed her old one

Hannah Dines, who represented Team GB at Rio 2016, is attempting to crowdfund a new racing trike after a theft on New Year’s Eve resulted in the destruction of her old one. In two days, Dines has raised over £5,400 of her £7,454 target on GoFundMe.

Dines said that thieves broke into her flat, stole her keys and took her car, which had her Nissan-Rio race trike inside.

“They crashed it into a petrol station and set everything alight. Nothing could be salvaged. It was adapted to me – I have cerebral palsy which affects the way my legs, my torso, back, hips and my left arm are controlled by my brain. I also have poor balance and dodgy joints. I look like a twisty pretzel when I cycle. A really fast and athletic looking pretzel who trained her ass off to compete in the Rio Paralympics in 2016.”

Dines said that the insurance “could not cover it” – and her situation has been compounded by having had her UK Sport funding cut.

Hannah's having a crap time. Her trike stolen & her UK Sport funding cut. You can help fund a replacement trike here https://t.co/978CM9qrSo

— Katie Archibald (@_katiearchibald) February 9, 2017

Everyone who donates will get their name written on the new trike with a sharpie and she says, “If you want to be anonymous can you just write a nickname/pseudonym/a phrase so you can be on my trike frame – even if I don’t know who you are.”

Should she exceed her target, the extra money will go to Neil’s Wheels, a charity who will put it towards getting other disabled people specialised sports equipment.

Donations can be made here.