Media Centre > Cornish Farm Holidays
19th November 2009
Man who broke neck cycling prepares for 280 mile charity ride
 Above: Cornish Farm Holidays member Jonathan Pellow (right) and his fiancée Sarah White who will cycle 280 miles across Vietnam and Cambodia this month.
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A man who broke his neck in a cycling accident is making final preparations for the ride of his life: a 280 mile cycle across Vietnam and Cambodia.
Jonathan Pellow, from Albaston on the Cornwall/Devon border, has been confined to a wheelchair since he “went over the handlebars” of his bike 13 years ago. He is tetraplegic, paralysed from the waist down with limited hand and arm function.
Jonathan, 42, leaves Cornwall next week with his fiancée Sarah White, 32, who will accompany him on the ride from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to the finish line at Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia.
He said: “Being in a wheelchair keeping fit is really important - I’ve never been one to go to a gym and cycling is a really enjoyable way to keep active. Sometimes you need a challenge like this to keep motivated.
“Sarah and I hope to raise £3,000 for Regain, the charity which helped me after my accident. They bought me my first hand-cycle, and they are the only charity which support tetraplegics so I wanted to raise some money for them.”
The week-long trip will see the couple cover up to 50 miles a day in hot, humid conditions. Jonathan has been training regularly since June, fitting in rides on his three-wheeled hand-powered bicycle with his job running two holiday cottages on the family farm.
After his accident, Jonathan converted two barns at Todsworthy Farm to cater especially for people with disabilities. Jonathan is a member of Cornish Farm Holidays, a cooperative of 80 Cornish farms offering quality self-catering and B&B accommodation.
“I know first hand how difficult it can be for people with disabilities, and their families, to get away from everyday life and enjoy a holiday. Our cottages have been converted to be accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities, who will all be able to enjoy this special part of Cornwall.”
Ivan Callanan, a committee member of Cornish Farm Holidays, said: “Jonathan is a lovely guy and I know the charity, Regain, is very personal to him, so on behalf of Cornish Farm Holidays we all wish him and Sarah the best of luck on their challenge.”
Regain is the only charitable organisation dedicated solely to improving the independence of all British men and women who have become tetraplegic (sometimes referred to as quadriplegic) as a result of a competitive sports injury. Money is available for potential Regainers to help provide them with the specialist equipment they need to enable them to achieve greater independence and improve their quality of life.
To sponsor Jonathan and Sarah visit the website http://www.justgiving.com/JonathanPellow-SarahWhite/.
ENDS
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Cornish Farm Holidays member Jonathan Pellow (right) and fiancée Sarah White. |
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Notes to Editors
Cornish Farm Holidays offer quality farm holiday accommodation on over 80 Cornish farms. All member farms are independently assessed by the English Tourist Board or the AA, as well as satisfying the Cornish Farm Holidays criteria for high-quality accommodation and service. And because Cornish Farm Holidays is a cooperative and not an agency, there are no agency fees to pay. www.cornishfarmholidays.co.uk
Media Contact - PR on behalf of Cornish Farm Holidays
Jim Michell at Barefoot Media.
Telephone: +44 (0)1208 895089
Email: jim@barefootmedia.co.uk |
