Published: Friday, 25th April, 2008 10:00
Brian battles back and aims to go that extra mile for BGH
By David Knox
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Brian trains hard as he prepares for his 81-mile ride.
SURVIVAL expert Brian Beattie has battled back into the saddle.
And the 39-year-old garden centre boss from Cardrona now hopes to go further than he’s ever gone before.
Brian suffered horrific injuries during a mountain bike crash at Glentress back in November 2006.
As well as breaking his back and neck, he fractured his skull and cracked his jaw.
The dad-of-two spent six weeks in Borders General Hospital’s spinal unit and a further six weeks at home in a body cast.
The long road to recovery has almost ended – and he now wants to give something back to the ward that helped him to walk again.
Brian told the Peeblesshire News: “I can’t remember much about my accident, but I was trying to do a jump when I landed on the front wheel and went over the handlebars. I was out cold for 10 minutes.
“I’m about 95 per cent back to what I used to be and only occasionally my back hurts a bit.
“Whilst I was in hospital I quickly came to realize what an amazing job the staff do down at the Borders General Hospital.
“They not only pulled me through but nurses who live up here were giving my wife, Caroline, lifts to the hospital and things like that. I’ll never be able to thank them enough.”
Although the gardening manager has 12 years of mountain biking experience behind him, he is about to tackle the longest ride of his life on May 18.
And every penny he raises will go towards equipment for Ward 9 at the BGH.
The Etape Caledonia challenge covers 81 miles around Pitlochry with almost 2,000 metres of climbs along the way.
Brian added: “While I was in Ward 9 I got the only spinal bed they had and they had to hire another in when another man came in with similar injuries.
“A girl, who was in a car crash, had to be taken to Newcastle as there was no spinal bed for her. They need all the help they can get to buy equipment and I hope to raise as much as possible.
“I am fairly confident of cycling 81 miles but the climbs are a different story.
Brian has been training hard with the help of his two sons, Connor and Cameron, and has already raised £400 sponsorship.
To sponsor Brian contact him by email on brian.beattie@btopenworld.com
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