A FORMER swimmer paralysed after suffering a horrendous injury has become the first person to ride the length of Britain in a bike controlled by his chin.
Andy Walker, from Oldham, completed his astonishing 1,000 mile challenge on Saturday, travelling from Lands End to John O'Groats in a battery-powered quad cycle. It took Andy two weeks, travelling about 85 miles a day.
He has already raised more than £12,000 for charity, with some of the cash set to go towards a new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease for those affected by the incurable condition.
Andy, now 46, was 28 when he suffered a spinal cord injury, which left him paralysed from the neck down. He hit a rock as he dived into the sea in Goa, India. He has since carried out charity treks, set up a motivational speaking company and received an MBE in 2019.
Speaking of his world-beating achievement, Andy, a former competitive swimmer, said: "It's emotional. I was crying my eyes out.
This story is from the August 19, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
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This story is from the August 19, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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