A Leeds dad who suffered a life-changing injury while out mountain biking is hoping to be back home in the new year.
Joe Ashworth, 41, of Woodlesford, was out with friends in Grenoside Woods, Sheffield, when he crashed into a tree and suffered a serious spinal injury. He was assisted at the scene by Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team and Yorkshire Air Ambulance medics before being taken to Sheffield's Northern General Hospital.
For the past six months, the married dad-of-two has been in hospital. Initially, he was placed into a coma and was unable to breathe on his own. Eventually, he was able to talk and has since been moved to Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield.
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He had been so poorly that his daughters, Alanna, 13, and Francesca, 10, were unable to see him for 10 weeks. Joe was told he had suffered a broken neck, with a break at the C6-C7 vertebrae that had damaged his spinal cord. He has tetraplegia, which means his arms and legs are severely impaired.
Family and friends are now rallying around to raise money for his rehabilitation and to pay for equipment that will assist his journey toward greater independence. His friend, Jason Sutcliffe, from Leeds, has set up a GoFundMe page - which can be found here - that has raised more than £19,725 so far.
Jason said he had been 'humbled' by people's generosity. He explained what the money would be used for, saying: "We're looking to raise funds towards caring for Joe's needs as he progresses his rehabilitation and looking forward to leaving hospital in 2023.
"These funds will be used to go towards specialist care and equipment to give Joe the ability to participate as fully as possible in family life, starting with specialist physio treatment at home.
"As his journey progresses specific equipment will be purchased, for example, a new wheelchair, or a specialist mattress to ensure he does not suffer from pressure sores.
"As we enter 2023, a number of fundraising activities will progress through 2023."
Joe has just recently passed the six-month anniversary of his accident and is facing an uncertain future as the family home is currently unsuitable and will need a lot of expensive adaptions.
Jason said: "For anyone who knows Joe, you'll know he is a strong and courageous guy and is tackling his rehab journey with a real positive determination.
"The days are long and hard, very hard, but he is making progress. While complications around the injury have enforced bed rest for lengthy periods, Joe makes the most of the limited opportunity to be out of bed in his wheelchair and maximise his rehab and work to be more independent with tasks we all simply take for granted.
"The rehab journey is of course a long road ahead for everyone involved, and we now start preparing for the next stage of his journey. From a medical perspective, conversations are now moving towards planning his eventual discharge from hospital in the new year, including what care package will be required to look after him at home. Plans to adapt Joe's home are now moving forward, as we try to determine Joe's needs and ensure a safe, functional family environment where Joe can be at the heart of the family and participate in daily life."
Joe told YorkshireLive that he was thankful to everyone who had contributed to the Go Fund Me appeal. He is feeling 'excited' but also anxious about going home, possibly at the end of January. His wife Fiona will be by his side.
Joe said: "(I'm) a bit apprehensive. Our house is not in a situation for someone in a wheelchair until we have done the adaptions."
He said a builder would be needed and they hadn't yet found one. Joe's long-term goal is to get outdoors again and enjoy some activities as he was previously fit and active, enjoying mountain biking and snowboarding.
Fiona thanked those who were helping with donations, saying: "I cannot believe how generous people have been (with the Go Fund Me page). We were a bit apprehensive but everyone has been so happy to help. We are amazed at how generous everybody has been. I can't thank them enough."
Fiona said the transition from hospital to home was a worrying time for them both because they would be losing the assistance of everyone in the hospital environment. Meanwhile, Joe's friend Jason said the fundraising would continue. "It is massively humbling to see the generosity of people."
The Go Fund Me page can be found here.
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