Stricken son inspires charity riders

John Pye, Ronnie Fletcher, Mike Beckett, Andy Capes and Mike Jowett will begin their ride to London from the Humber Bridge at 10am on Friday, June 7.

They plan to reach the capital three days later and will be raising money for The Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation.

The start of their journey will be marked by the release of balloons by children from Swanland Primary School.

Mr Pye said: “We have a personal interest in the aims of the charity as our elder son, Steven, contracted a virus on his spine at the age of 15 in 2007, which overnight left him paralysed from the chest down.

“He has since defied the doctors who said that he would be confined to a wheelchair for life by undertaking a rigorous and ongoing programme of exercise and physiotherapy, so that he is now able to walk with walking sticks.

“His commitment and dedication to his recovery have proved to be an inspiration to many, prompting us to establish the Hull and East Riding branch of the foundation.”