TWO riders from Trafford took up the challenge to cycle the 300km from London to Paris in aid of the SIA (Spinal Injuries Association).

Solicitor and Hale resident Cathy Leech, from law firm Pannone, completed the journey and helped raise a fantastic £7000 along with her co-rider and Bowdon resident, Pauline Terry, project manager for the Southway Housing Association.

Cathy, who has secured compensation pay-outs worth millions of pounds for spinal injury accident victims and has also helped with health professional education for spinal cord injury, said: “I have worked with the SIA for 20 years and have seen first-hand the fantastic word they do. More than 20 able-bodied riders joined three spinal injured riders on hand-bikes and it was both an honour and a fantastic experience to cycle with them.”

She added, “One of the spinal injured riders was Gary Dawson from the SIA, who visits newly injured people in the north west to help support them and their families. Gary is always keen to stress that the SIA’s strap-line is ‘Life doesn’t stop after you’re paralysed’, and the ride to Paris was proof indeed that this is very definitely true.”