Ian Ord, 57, from Aberdeen, has difficulties walking to this day following a cycling accident in 2014 and yet he is committing to undertake Scotland’s epic Highland 500 challenge and cycle 500 miles in five days to raise funds for Scottish charity, Winning Scotland Foundation. Ian, business development director at Fifth Ring, broke his femur in the accident, but after surgery developed a blood clot that resulted in him being admitted to intensive care. Thankfully, because of his level of fitness due to regular cycling, his heart was able to survive the trauma.
More bad news was to come, when Ian learned that a muscle around his femur was unable to be reattached, resulting in him being unable to walk unaided for nine months and enduring over 50 rehabilitation sessions in the gym, pool and on the bike.
Ian was determined to never give up and is now back to full health and cycles regularly.
He is joining a team of 10 from independent financial advisers, Carbon Financial Partners who are enduring a gruelling 500 mile charity cycle at the end of August. The team is cycling to raise £50,000 for Winning Scotland Foundation, a charity that works to create a culture where all young people in Scotland have the opportunity to achieve their personal best in life and learn important life skills. Corporate sponsors of the ride include SARN Technologies Ltd, a managed I.T. services provider, Johnston Smillie, chartered accountants and business advisers and Craneware, the healthcare market leader in automated value cycle solutions.
The 500-mile cycle event, which loops the North of Scotland, beginning and ending in Inverness, will be undertaken from August 29 – September 2.
Ian’s story echoes that of Commonwealth Games cyclist Charline Joiner, who works with the Foundation as a role model in schools. Charline, who is supporting the team’s fundraising cycle, broke her back in 2014 as a result of an accident, but through sheer determination was in the saddle once again just four months later competing at the Games. Charline has been giving the team training and nutrition advice, including recommending her favourite pre-event breakfast of porridge, peanut butter, honey and banana!
The team’s fundraising is also being supported by Winning Scotland Foundation Ambassador, adventure cyclist Mark Beaumont and other famous Scottish athletes who work with the charity as role models including triathlete Catriona Morrison MBE and world championship silver medallist, Fiona Duncan. Catriona and Fiona are scheduled to join the team on part of the ride.
On August 20 the team undertook its third and final training ride of the year, Richard Wadsworth, a financial planner with Carbon Financial Partners, said: “We had an excellent final training session yesterday and we are now raring to go for the charity cycle.
“The challenge of cycling 500 miles over five days will be an extremely tough one, but as a team we will help to keep each other going, and the knowledge that the money raised is going to a very worthwhile cause will help us keep our focus.”
To find our more about the Carbon Financial Partners’ team efforts please visit www.mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/carbonhighland500.