A cyclist who was paralysed from the waist down by a rare medical condition is to become the first person to compete in one of Scotland’s toughest competitions on a hand-powered bike.
On Sunday Marcus Brook will join thousands of other cyclists to take part in the Marie Curie Etape Caledonia in Pitlochry.
Two years ago Marcus was an avid mountain biker and motorcyclist but in September 2014 his life was changed forever when he suffered a spinal stroke just hours after completing a 30km cycle run.
An abnormal artery suddenly began pumping blood into his spine, crushing the cord. Fortunately, a vein ruptured, preventing any more blood reaching his spinal cord.
Had the bleeding continued, Marcus would have suffocated to death once the blood reached his neck and switched off his diaphragm.
He said: “That night I was told that I would never walk again as I was paralyzed from the waist down.
“Devastated isn’t a strong enough word for how I felt. I could not imagine a life without being active – I just saw it all as pointless. What use was I going to be to anybody? I was just a burden to my family and I just didn’t want to know.”
However as the 49-year-old recovered he was given hope as he learned about devices which could help others in his position lead a more active lifestyle.
He has since founded a charity to supply specialist wheelchairs, called paragolfers, which allow users to rise into a standing position, and on Sunday Marcus and six friends will be raising funds for the organisation.
The father-of -two said: “We are fundraising to buy another paragolfer and a trailer to transport them to wherever they are needed by wheelchair users.
“We are hoping to raise a further £5,000 via the Etape and a total of £20,000 this year. We have already raised £42,000 in total since April last year.”
He added: “A couple of friends had done the Caledonia so, like an idiot, I thought why not. It’s the Daddy and to be the first to complete it on a handbike had a nice ring to it.
“I am reliably informed by the organisers that nobody has entered the Etape in a handbike before. I of course now realise that’s because 1200m of climbing and 81 miles is a tall order.
“Getting up the Schiehallion will be hell but I want to be there doing it more than anything – after all I shouldn’t be anywhere at all.”
