Horror crash Durham biker to take on charity cycle to thank air ambulance team who saved his life

A former biker who was badly hurt in a horror crash is swapping his motorbike for a push bike to raise funds for the air ambulance team who rescued him.
Paul Parker is to take part in a chairty bike ride for Great North Air Ambulance. Wife Julie and daughter Aimee ParkerPaul Parker is to take part in a chairty bike ride for Great North Air Ambulance. Wife Julie and daughter Aimee Parker
Paul Parker is to take part in a chairty bike ride for Great North Air Ambulance. Wife Julie and daughter Aimee Parker

Paul Parker, from Wingate Close, in Houghton, suffered a broken pelvis in a serious motorbike accident back in January.

The 42-year-old was out enjoying a day riding with two friends in Slaley Forest, in Northumberland, when he came off the road on a tight bend in the forest and veered into a grassed area.

Paul Parker is to take part in a chairty bike ride for Great North Air Ambulance. Wife Julie and daughter Aimee ParkerPaul Parker is to take part in a chairty bike ride for Great North Air Ambulance. Wife Julie and daughter Aimee Parker
Paul Parker is to take part in a chairty bike ride for Great North Air Ambulance. Wife Julie and daughter Aimee Parker
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Luckily, the Great North Air Ambulance came to his aid and flew him to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where he spent weeks in recovery.

Now, the dad-of-one will be joined by friends and colleagues on a 25.6 mile charity cycle from Slaley Forest to the RVI on September 17 to say thanks and raise funds for the life-saving service.

Paul, a offshore electrical supervisor for Shell, said: “I am taking on the cycle to thank the Great North Air Ambulance for my care after the accident.

“I am back to work now and back to normal, but it wasn’t the most comfortable bone to break.
“As a result, I am only just getting back on to my push bike now, but I am not going back on my motorbike again.

Paul Parker is to take part in a chairty bike ride for Great North Air Ambulance. Wife Julie and daughter Aimee ParkerPaul Parker is to take part in a chairty bike ride for Great North Air Ambulance. Wife Julie and daughter Aimee Parker
Paul Parker is to take part in a chairty bike ride for Great North Air Ambulance. Wife Julie and daughter Aimee Parker

“My accident showed me just how vulnerable you are.

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“I wanted to raise some funds for the service and was intending to do the ride on my own, but some of the lads I work with and friends have said they will join me.

“We will be riding from the edge of the forest where I had my accident, to the RVI where the ambulance service flew me to, which is about 25.6 miles in total.”

Mr Parker said he hopes to raise as much as possible for the service and said he would like to meet the team who rescued him when he hands over the money later this year. He said he has received donations from the Shell Charity Committee Fund as well as friends and family.

Paul Parker is to take part in a chairty bike ride for Great North Air Ambulance. Wife Julie and daughter Aimee ParkerPaul Parker is to take part in a chairty bike ride for Great North Air Ambulance. Wife Julie and daughter Aimee Parker
Paul Parker is to take part in a chairty bike ride for Great North Air Ambulance. Wife Julie and daughter Aimee Parker

He added: “The money is just a gesture of my thanks and I have been collecting it via sponsor forms, but anyone else who would like to donate can visit the official donation page for the Great North Air Ambulance.”

To donate visit: www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk/donate/