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Inspirational Steven Dowd is set to complete 100 mile cycle challenge one year on from being classified as tetraplegic
The seemingly impossible challenge aims to raise money for Wings For Life, the spinal cord injury research foundation that funded a pioneering trial that gave him back mobility
Whilst training for the Prudential Ride London in June 2016, Steven Dowd fell from his bike and broke his neck; resulting in immediate loss of feeling and mobility from below the neck. Despite Steven’s tetraplegia, JUST one year on he is set to complete the 100 mile cycle on a static bike. This seemingly impossible challenge is the finale to 200 days of intense training and neurorehabilitation, which Steven has aptly named the #200dayschallange. Throughout his journey Steven has been raising money for charity Wings for life that funded the pioneering trial that has enabled him to walk again.
Steven will attempt to complete the challenge at the Red Bull headquarters in London on June 30th. Determined to do the ride in six hours or less, he will be cycling along sections of Zwift’s virtual Prudential Ride London course, which he has used throughout his training. The virtual course mimics the gradient and variables found on the actual Prudential Ride London route.
Without the Wings for Life intervention Steven may not have made this phenomenal recovery and be able to ride a bike. Through funding essential research and trials there is hope for the 1,200 people in the UK and Ireland who are paralysed every year as a result of spinal cord injury.
Steven says, “After months of specialist neurorehabilitation, I still have many issues to overcome but I can now walk and cycle. Without the right interventions it could have been a very different outcome for me. Wings for Life directly funded the experimental trial that helped me. That is why I want to do this challenge to support the cause and give other people with paralysis the chance to walk and cycle again.”
This is the second 200 days challenge Steven has undergone. His first was to walk again, which he promised his wife he would do by Christmas. On Christmas day last year Steven was able to carry the Christmas turkey to the table.
Keep up to date with Steven’s progress at:
Facebook.com/200dayschallenge
Linkedin.com/in/stevendowd
Instagram.com/200dayschallenge
Twitter @200daysch #200dayschallenge #spinalcordinjury
For more information about training on Zwift visit www.zwift.com
