We’re going to do it! We’re SO CLOSE to the £3000 target to raise money for UKABIF. A massive amount of awareness has already been raised. I am so so grateful.
Let me tell you how the race went. I’ve only had my bike a month and have focused on distance rather than sprinting. After the first of my 4 laps (around 5km) my legs were burning. I’d somehow managed to get up to 18.5 mph on the final straight – I’ve not even come close to this before. I could just feel so many people rooting for me. Then disaster struck. After getting up so much speed someone pointed to where I should be going. It involved almost doubling back on myself. It involved a very sharp turn. Too sharp.
I went up on two wheels and needed to counter-steer to right myself. This all happened in a split second so my reactions stopped me steering into one person to right myself. I carried on, on two wheels, but had run out of track. I crashed through the barrier and once I’d finished taking out the cameraman, flew off the bike across the tarmac.
People rushed over to see if I was alright. I didn’t know. I knew I’d smacked my arm. I looked at it and saw blood. My legs and lungs were burning. Someone asked “do you want to go on?”. My body shouted “no!”. But so many people believed in me, knew I could do this. So I WAS going to do this. So I replied “yes” in direct contradiction to my body’s advice. This whole crisis seemed to take an age, but according to my Garmin only took around 2 minutes. The cameraman (and his camera I hope) survived the ordeal…
Back off and the more my legs burned and the more I gasped for breath, I was just reminded about all the good people are helping me to do. All the pain I’m feeling might be pain I’m helping someone avoid. So I tried to shoulder more. I pushed myself harder and harder, until on the last lap I started to get pins and needles in my face, hands and feet. I couldn’t get sufficient air into my lungs quickly enough to cope with the job at hand.
Every penny, every share, every word of encouragement was a source of energy and motivation for me. It’s simply amazing the reaction people all over the world have had. That made my body do amazing things. I had to estimate how long I’d take to ride 20km. After riding at full pace around Stoke Mandeville racetrack a few times I’d hit average speeds of around 12mph. But that was a 400m track. So over 20km, I estimated 10mph. This meant I would take 1 hour 15 minutes to complete the course at Dorney Lake. Even with the crash, with the support I’ve had, I managed to somehow finish in just over 50 minutes!! Official race times are yet to be released…
I cannot thank everybody enough. I wasn’t just racing for myself. I was racing for my team… and everybody who has supported me and the campaign is part of my team. I hope I did you proud.
It warms my heart to see so much support, to see so much love and compassion. It’s such a contrast too after I experienced the darker side of humanity. But I’ve found out the hard way that to fully appreciate the good things in life, you need to have been through bad to have something to compare them to.
“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
This applies to the one cruel act in 2009. I believe I am now experiencing part of the world’s reaction. My (unimaginably huge) team is showing me how different it is and people are coming together to help me. It’s like the scales of life are being rebalanced. In 2009 they were heavily weighted to the bad side of life. They are steadily being rectified.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I am honoured to be part of this truly amazing, selfless and caring team. This has restored my faith in humanity 🙂
Nick Verron
Click here to visit Nick’s campaign, which is still open for donations for another few hours!
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
To say I’m a little teary-eyed is an understatement! This warms me right down to the cockles of my heart.
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Hw got me too. He has that knack…
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Well that’s it! I am now officially Blubbing 🙂
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I had to read it too, you know… I was no better x
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That’s alright then ..lol x
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😀 x
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wow, it has restored his faith in humanity. that is real power.
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🙂
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Proud doesn’t cover it. You was amazing!
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I was with him when he read that… you raised a fair smile there, Richard. 🙂
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That’s good. 🙂
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🙂
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Reblogged this on Richard Ankers and commented:
Nick in his own words. A true star.
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I’m sniffing away here too. Nick, you are truly amazing; your courage is an example to us all
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Nick says thank you, Jeanette.
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Fabulous, Nick – just totally wonderful. Many congratulations! xxx
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❤ xxx
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Wonderful interview. 🙂
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🙂
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We are just as proud of you Nick and what you have achieved, as you are of the blogging community!
What a role model you are for those that have suffered serious injury, and not expected to survive. 🙂
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He has read every comment, Judy, and asks me to say thank you.
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🙂
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Reblogged this on Barrow Blogs: and commented:
Nick says,”For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” And he’s proved it – he’s beaten the odds. What a brilliant chap! Please read and share…
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I thought this was tagged ‘crying’ not ‘cycling.’ Such inspiration, determination and pure heart.
Thank YOU, Nick.
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I might as well have done, Jean!
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You have your mother’s way with words, Nick. So glad to see and hear in your voice the love you have for living, despite the horror of the past… well done you, on so many levels.
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Nick says, thank you! Maybe it is because of those horrors, not in spite of them.
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You certainly did do us proud, Nick. Your words, just like your Mum’s, have made me cry again! I’m looking forward now to the Brighton gig your Mum mentioned you were considering.
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He booked it today… and decided that 100 miles wasn’t all that far to ride home afterwards… :O
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😀
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This is an amazing journey of a boy who gives the others courage to believe they can achieve whatever they want in their life.
A brave heart! 🙂
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That message of hope is what my son wants to share. Thank you, Sherrie.
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Indeed, Sue. Indeed.
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🙂
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
£2792 donated at time of re-blog – only £208 to go to reach Nick’s Target Folks 😀
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You did indeed do us all proud, Nick. I think everyone who follows this blog has been on an emotional rollercoaster (sorry that’s such a cliche, but it does sum it up) for the last few weeks, all rooting for you. Can we stop crying for a wee while, now?
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He’s had me at it again today, Mary, him and the girls… just fantastic people. ❤
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Rock on, Nick! You did us all proud. Hope your recovery from the effort you made was as fast as you were flying.
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He says thank you.. and he’s riding again tomorrow 🙂
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Wonderful, abso9lutely wonderful – and Nick, very well done! Adrian
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Amazing and wonderful, Nick. I was on pins and needles to hear about your race, way over here in Oregon. Thank you so much for raising awareness, and sharing your story. You’re an inspiration! 😀
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Nick says, ‘Thank you :)’
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Reblogged this on Stuart France and commented:
Final push…
£208 needed…
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Nick…you have restored OUR faith in humanity with all of your dedication to life. Thank you for sharing your wonderful journey! Best of luck!
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Nick thanks you and Sandy, Patrick x
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Reblogged this on My train of thoughts on….
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Well done, Nick! You really are amazing! Congratulations on such a wonderful achievement! So what’s next on the agenda???
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London to Brighton… then ride back home apparently… in less than a month 🙂 Plus a bit of rock climbing to be going on with… 😉
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He’s having a new lease of life! This had been great for his confidence!
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That seems to have soared, Ali 😀
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It’s wonderful to see!
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Wow, Nick, you dig so deeply into the well of strength and fortitude – truly amazing and beyond inspiring.
Next thing we know, women will be lining up, begging to have your babies -LOL! ;-D
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Nick says: thank you… nothing fit for public consumption springs to mind for that last bit 😉
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;-D
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Congratulations on this amazing life win!
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Darn, where did I put that box of tissues! Congrats Nick. A job well done. Your mom probably still has a proud grin on her face.
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How did you guess, Michelle? 😀
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Nick, you’re an example to every single human being on this little world of ours. You are, with out a doubt, the most inspirational person I have ever encountered. Many will look up to you and thank you for what you have done. I’m not just talking about the money you and your team have raised, but also the faith you put back into life and living. You have done an amazing job.
I hope to be able to meet you one day because I liked to thank you personally for what you you have achieved and done.
With my very best best wishes,
Hugh
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Thanks Hugh. . Nick was very touched t your comment x
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