Hero Rider Hopes to Pedal to £5,000

A climber who lost part of a leg following a horror fall on Ben Nevis is planning a grueling 900-mile bike ride.

Richard Lamb is in a team of amputees hoping to cycle from Lands End to John O' Groats in just 21 days.

And so raise £90,000 for the Limbless Association and the Douglas Bader Foundation.
Richard - who formerly lived in Glossop's Cowbrook Court - also hopes to prove that a disability does not mean giving up on achieving goals.
"The hardest stretch will be the 74 miles from Preston to Kirby Stevens, which we hope to do in a day," said Richard who is hoping to personally raise £5,000.

David and Debbie Wright of Gas Care uk Glossop, are amongst the people sponsoring Richard.
They have cleared the balance of his new touring bike.

Richard spent months hospitalized and convalescing after the accident in 2001.
He was following one of the loves in his life - mountain in Scotland - when he slipped and fell from Tower Ridge on the Ben Nevis range.

Even now he does not know how far he plummeted in an accident that caused major leg and lower arm injuries.

Richard, who now lives in Manchester. will be part of a team starting the Otto Bock UK Cycle Challenge on July 4.
When the riders are not pushing pedals they will be calling in at artificial limb fitting centers en route."We want to promote the benefits  of taking part in sport to new individuals with acquired and congenital limb loss," said Richard.

Leading by example the amputee team aim to show that it is possible to live and full and active life. Even cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats.

The fall on Ben Nevis ended Richard's career as an environmental scientist - and almost ended his life

A combination of the approximately 800 feet fall and severe frost bite brought on by -20 degree temperatures left Richard with that below-knee amputation of the right leg, dislocated and fractured left ankle, severe skull fracture and the loss of most fingers through third degree frost bite.

First step after convalescing with his sister's family in Sheffield Road was retraining for a new career in IT. "I then decided to re-climb the route on Ben Nevis that claimed the life of my climbing buddy and almost my own by a hair's breadth," said Richard
"Successfully completing the ascent of Tower Ridge put a private demon to rest and allowed me to say goodbye to Neil for his parents, Keith and Shirley.

"I raised £2,800 for the Limbless Association and the English Federation of Disability Sport, I am deeply grateful for the great support from my family and friends."
 Richard met Dave and Debbie Wright at a family barbecue, impressed by his courage and determination, they offered to fund the specialist bike."Without their generosity I would have found raising the money difficult," said Richard.

For more information on the ride you should log onto the following web sites:

www.uk-cycle-challenge.com or www.justgiving.com/tricky_UKCC

Gas Care uk, 62 Victoria street, Glossop, Derbyshire. SK13 8HY Tel : 01457 868 040... Fax :01457 868 870, .. Email: info@gascareuk.co.uk