AN ARCHITECHT badly injured in a cycling accident has completed a 100-mile journey in his wheelchair for charity.
Ian Maskell, 57, took 14 days to push from the London Eye to the i360, arriving at the seafront attraction in Brighton to crowds of well-wishers yesterday afternoon.
He began the challenge on the day of the fourth anniversary of his accident, when he was left paralysed from the waist down after an off-road crash on his bike.
Mr Maskell, who lives in Hurstpierpoint, said: “The whole experience has been really great – a huge challenge but nonetheless an experience I will never forget and the support I have received has been wonderful.
“I think dragging myself out of bed during the second week was the hardest part and the first half of the journey on the way to Cranleigh was really tough, with lots of tricky terrain to manage.
“My wheelchair broke along the way so I had to stop and a friend met me to help repair it and then had to carry out ongoing maintenance to keep the wheels rolling.
“I originally thought I would get it done in seven to ten days but it took a bit longer due to a couple of these setbacks.
“Last Thursday and Friday was really wet and that almost dampened my spirits, with my wheelchair spraying up mud.
“It all came good when I hit the coast and the sun came out.”
Mr Maskell has raised about £6,500 for the four charities which have helped him overcome the difficulties he faced since his accident – the Architects Benevolent Society, Aspire, Back Up and the Spinal Injuries Association.
Year 6 pupils from Windlesham School in Brighton were there to cheer Mr Maskell and wave pom poms as he made his way along the seafront to complete the final stretch of the challenge.
The pupils, also charity representatives for the school, held up bunting
to create a colourful finishing line outside the i360 gift shop.
To donate, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com
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