A KEEN cyclist left paralysed in a freak accident yearns to walk his daughter down the aisle – and friends are now striving to make his dream come true.
Pete Ford, 62, suffered life changing injuries on a club ride in August 2021 when a fellow cyclist hit a pothole, ripping his tyre to shreds and crashed into him.
The dad-of-two, who lived in Knutsford for 25 years, spent seven weeks immobilised in bed and lost two stone of muscle.
Louise quit her job as a nurse to become Pete's carer, cheerleader and constant source of support
Specialists warned wife Louise, 59, that he may not survive. She quit her job as a nurse to do all she could to support him.
"The accident happened so fast, I had no time to react," said Pete. "The next thing I knew I was lying in a pool of blood unable to move anything below my neck."
Avid rider Pete belongs to Knutsford Tri Club and has conquered many major routes from the Tour de France, including 48 hairpin bends on The Stevio Pass in Italy.
Pete conquers 48 hairpin bends on The Stelvio Pass in Italy
Just a month before the crash, he completed the club's Wales in a Day coast to coast challenge, riding 185 miles and climbing 25,000 feet.
Pete with Louise and club members on the Wales Coast to Coast in a day challenge
Now, after spending four months in a specialist spinal unit, he is determined to accompany daughter Clare, 29, on her wedding day when she marries fiance Curtis King, 29.
Pete's daughter Clare and fiance Curtis King
"I'm focussed on building leg strength to work towards walking without machinery and a team of attendant physios," said Pete.
"I know I'll only be able to recover to the extent my injury allows but that doesn't stop me having targets of riding a bike and being able to walk my daughter down the aisle."
Pete at the finish of Knutsford Tri Club's Wales in a Day challenge, from Caernarfon to Chepston
Knutsford Tri Club launched an appeal to buy Pete a specialist bike exerciser he used in hospital and fund specialist neurological physiotherapy.
Club member Lou Clague, from Northwich, said: "In 24 hours, we raised £6,453 to buy the Thera-trainer Tigo bike.
"We are awestruck by the way Pete is approaching his recovery. His positivity is inspirational.
Pete and wife Louise with Knutsford Tri Club Wales Coast to Coast team
"We are determined to do everything we can to support his rehabilitation."
Pete said: "I am blown away by the speed of the response.
"Enormous thanks to everyone.
"My wife Louise remains utterly remarkable, a constant cheerleader and source of support, a rock and an anchor around which to build our new lives.
"She is now my carer and day-to-day physio, a demanding set of roles she's taken on with determination whilst still keeping the romance in our marriage."
To donate visit gofund.me/1b6b4a7a
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