Paralympic hopeful aims to inspire spine injury victims

Handcyclist Karen Darke, 39, is embarking on the Fit 2 Wheel tour in a bid to show spinal patients that “fun, adventure and physical fitness are all still possible”. During the four-day tour, Ms Darke, who suffered her accident at the age of 21, will also raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Sheffield-based health care company B Braun Medical Ltd will be Ms Darke’s sponsorship partner for the Fit 2 Wheel tour which will see employees taking to their bikes to join her.

Ms Darke, who now lives in Inverness, is a regular visitor to Sheffield where her partner, mountaineer and author Andy Kirkpatrick, is based.

She said: “I was a patient in a spinal cord injury unit myself for almost six months and have fond memories of the staff and patients who helped me through that difficult time – it really helped me to see what was possible.

“I hope that my visit will perhaps inspire some people facing the initial challenges of paralysis to see that fun, adventure and physical fitness are all still possible.”

Ms Darke has undertaken several adventures in wilderness areas including Alaska and the Andes, with a recent expedition involving her handcycling over the Himalayas.

She added: “I will share some stories of adventures that have been possible since I was paralysed – cycling, kayaking and in particular some great ‘wilderness’ adventures like sit-skiing across the Greenland icecap.

“I hope it might just trigger a spark for a different pers- pective on life as well as motivation for spinal injuries patients.”

The group chief executive of B Braun in the UK, Hans Hux, said: “B Braun are very proud to support her and I am equally proud that some of our staff will be pedalling alongside this extraordinary cyclist during her return to Yorkshire.”