WHEN the police car he was driving was rammed off the road by a stolen vehicle two years ago, Neil Jones was left with life-changing injuries and was unable to return to frontline duties.
But the determined 41-year-old, who was born in Runcorn, is hoping to overcome all obstacles and get on his bike this May, cycling 140 miles in just 12 hours, raising money for mental health charity MIND.
Neil suffers from radiculopathy, which affects the nerves in the spinal column, and he has problems with his left arm and left leg.
As a result of his injuries, Neil was unable to return to his role as police constable in traffic enforcement and now carries out office-based duties.
He said: “In January 2019, I stopped a vehicle in Helsby that was stolen with false plates.
“The driver reversed into me at great speed.
“The pain I initially thought was whiplash turned out to be spinal injuries with discs popping out and pulling on nerves.
“I was told I wouldn’t get better and it would only get worse but, while I’m still able to walk, it’s not serious enough to risk surgery.”
The dad-of-two, who was off work for seven months following the accident, was left with physical and mental battles to overcome having spent several years dealing with death and body trauma as a traffic enforcement officer.
Neil said: “During the extended sick leave, my mental health demons resurfaced.
“I was left needing to fight a physical and mental battle and I realised I had to find something positive to do.”
Neil took up cycling and, while on the road to recovery, he came up with the idea of The Thin Blue Loop – a 140-mile challenge taking in ten police stations all over the north west in just one day.
Neil said: “Cycling gives me the freedom of space and time, allowing me to blow the cobwebs away, making way for fresh thoughts, clarity and reason.
“During my rides, I came up with the idea for The Thin Blue Loop.
“It will be a mammoth task and require a huge effort beyond my normal capabilities but it’s for a worthwhile cause.”
On Saturday, May 22, Neil will cycle from Cheshire Police headquarters in Winsford and visit 15 police stations around Cheshire.
He is hoping to raise more than £3,600 for MIND, which will go towards helping people with mental health issues.
To donate to Neil’s page visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thethinblueloop For more information about the challenge visit Đăng nhập Facebook
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