Published: Wednesday, 16th July, 2008 12:00
1000-mile trip for crash paraglider
By Jamie MacDonald
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Colin Downie's saddled up and on the road
Pic by: Picture supplied by Colin Downie
A PARAGLIDER who nearly died after crashing into a mountain has raised thousands of pounds for charity by cycling around Scotland.
Colin Downie – son of local minister Alan Downie – has raised over £7000 by getting on his bike to cycle 1004 miles around the coast of Scotland.
After his crash in 2005 the former Alloa Academy pupil had to drag himself down from the mountain with two collapsed lungs, a broken pelvis, dislocated hip, sciatic nerve damage and a shattered foot.
He was eventually rescued by a helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth when friends raised the alarm after he failed to meet them.
Three years later, following months in hospital and a wheelchair – plus reconstructive surgery and therapy -– Colin pedalled along some of the country’s most demanding roads.
He took a heart shaped route around Scotland, finishing on Saturday at Beinn Leabhain – the scene of his accident.
Colin told the Advertiser, “There were 45 people waiting at the finish line for me. There were a lot of friends and family and my grandad was there with a bottle of champagne and everyone had a great day – it was an absolutely amazing experience.”
The cycle took the 28-year-old through remote areas such as Kyle of Lochalsh, Ullapool and John O’Groats in addition to Stirling, Aberdeen and Montrose.
Colin said, “The highlight was the finish line and cycling along the West Coast seeing seals and otters and the breathtaking scenery. At Gairloch there wasn’t a car on the road and eagles were nearby.”
With the Highlands of Scotland being well known for its steep hills it is little surprise that sections of the route proved to be extremely demanding.
Colin said, “From Kyle of Lochalsh to Ullapool it was tough just because of the hills. You struggled up one side of it then quickly went down the other side in time to start another steep climb but in the days after the other steep parts didn’t seem as tough as they would have done before.”
He added, “The weather was mixed and by the time I reached Montrose there was a severe weather warning – that made for tough cycling conditions – but you just have to get on with it and grind it out. It’s Scotland and that’s the sort of weather you get.
“The whole time I was on the road I had someone in a car a few hours down the road that I was heading to meet for a cup of tea. For the first week it was friends and the second my mum and dad – it would have been a lot harder without them.”
As part of his route Colin stopped in at RAF Lossiemouth to meet the crew responsible for his rescue. Colin met winchman Duncan Tripp who lifted him to safety and the operators who took his call for help.
“It was incredible to meet the people who saved my life and I think it was good that they could see an end result of someone who was broken when they helped them,” Colin said. “There aren’t any words that can convey what they did for me.”
Colin is keen to stress that people can still sponsor him through his website – www.wilddayout.com/colin – and all funds will go to WildHearts Foundation which provides small loans to the poor in developing countries enabling them to start small businesses to work their own way out of poverty with self respect and dignity.
He said, “I’m over the moon with how much we raised. If you said to me we would raise so much money before I wouldn’t have believed you. It has been an awesome experience.”
A twisted knee that hampered his preparations could not stop Colin’s determination to succeed and although it caused him some discomfort on his journey there was never a danger of him failing to finish.
Colin added, “For the first week it was okay but then it started to get stiff and sore but I managed to hang in there. The adrenaline whilst you’re riding also keeps you going but now I’ve completed it I have really stiff thighs and it’s a struggle to get up the stairs.”
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