AN amputee and former soldier is embarking on a 2000km endurance cycle to raise funds for a charity providing support for limbless veterans.
Former Captain of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment Stuart Croxford will be cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats in support of the charity Blesma.
Croxford suffered injuries to his feet after his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan in 2012.
In 2014 he then had to have his right leg amputated below the knee after experiencing a physically traumatic accident.
He will cycle for up to 20 hours per day through Truro, Exmoor National Park, Quantock Hills, Bristol, Brecon Beacons National Park, Manchester, Yorkshire Dales, West Lothian, Stirling, and Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve.
Croxford said: “Riding for this distance and duration with little rest would push an able-bodied rider to their extreme both physically and mentally. As an amputee this will add extra stress and factors I will need to think about and overcome daily.
“I’ve never put this amount of stress through my residual limb and prosthetic so will be riding into the unknown.”
“To complete this challenge, I’ll have to rely hugely on my own resilience to pull myself through some very challenging times.
“My motivation will come from the knowledge that funds will be raised for a fantastic charity that provides lifetime support to veterans and their families suffering from loss of limb or sight loss.”
Four months post-amputation, Croxford qualified as a British Association of Snowsport Instructors ski instructor and then went on to complete a full Ironman, the London Marathon and numerous 100-mile cycling challenges.
In 2017, Croxford and his wife set up ThreeZero12, a specialist fitness and health service.
Inspired by his story, bike manufacturers AVA collaborated with Stuart to make a bike in his honour, named the Croxford Defender.
Built to withstand tough terrains, Croxford will use the bike on his lengthy journey throughout the UK.
AVA founder Norman Crowley said: “The AVA Croxford Defender celebrates Stuart’s remarkable story of resilience and positivity. The vehicle is AVA’s tribute to Stuart’s incredible courage and determination in the face of adversity.”
Blesma is dedicated to assisting serving and ex-service people who have suffered life-changing limb loss or the loss of a limb’s usage by providing emotional, practical and financial support to them and their families.
A trustee of Blesma since 2020, Croxford hopes the cycle will raise £50,000 for the charity.
According to Blesma, £50 can pay for 10 limbless veterans to receive emotional and practical support from a support officer, while £1000 can pay for a high-quality wheelchair for limbless or limb-injured veterans, and £2,000 can pay for essential home adaptions like stair lifts.
It will celebrate its 90th anniversary this year and has helped more than 63,000 injured veterans throughout its nine decades.
You can donate to Croxford's campaign through JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stuartcroxford
His progress can be tracked live: https://www.followmychallenge.com/live/the-croxford-challenge-2022/?iframe
