A man who was treated at Royal Preston Hospital has completed a 100-mile bike ride to raise money for the staff who cared for him after a life-changing accident.

Two years ago, John Olerenshaw set himself the challenge for his 60^th birthday to cycle the coastline of Great Britain, but crashed into a road sign before he could finish the journey and suffered serious injuries.

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John had cycled 4,108 miles in 58 days and only had 110 miles to go before the accident, after which he spent seven weeks at Royal Preston Hospital undergoing multiple surgeries and a long recovery process, while his family stayed at Bowland House, the on-site accommodation for families to stay to be near their loved ones.

John said: “Two years after the accident, I felt I was at a place to complete the ambitious challenge I had set myself some time ago. I had managed to gather some friends to help me complete the rest of the journey, but because of the pandemic this wasn’t possible.

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“Instead, we individually cycled the remaining miles around the Isle of Man, and it is my pleasure to be splitting the funds raised between Bowland House at Royal Preston Hospital where I was so well looked after, and the North West Air Ambulance Service who airlifted me to hospital.”

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Roya Armstrong, Fundraising Coordinator at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are all so grateful to John for his support following such a terrible accident.

“The care he received from our staff was fantastic, and we are delighted that John has recovered so well.

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“It is amazing that he and his friends were able to complete the bike ride, and our colleagues at the North West Air Ambulance Charity are so well-deserving of these funds, too. Thank you John, we wish you all the very best!”

John and his friends still wish to undertake a cycle in the Lancashire area when circumstances allow.

To make a donation and stay up to date with John’s challenge, visit his JustGiving page.

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