A CHARITY cycle ride to raise vital cash for people with cancer was put in jeopardy after the fundraiser’s bike was wrecked.

Sean Wright began cycling two years ago to help him lose weight and quickly became passionate about his new sport, going on longer and longer rides.

Having lost nine stone in that time, dropping to 14 stone, he decided to organise a 700-mile in seven days cycle ride from Inverness in Scotland to West Hagbourne, near Didcot, to raise cash for two charities.

But just weeks before he was due to set off, Mr Wright’s new Bianchi Via Nirone 7 was wrecked when he swerved to avoid a car in Abingdon.

The 27-year-old decided to raise £1,500 for Cancer Research UK because his grandmother Joyce Wright died from cervical cancer aged 76 in 2009, as well as Tourette’s Action, because his two cousins live with the condition.

He said: “I have been cycling for two years, but it’s been just over a year since I really got into it.

“At first it was to get fit and lose some weight, but then I thought it was something I enjoyed, so why not help others at the same time? The plan was to do 700 miles in seven days from West Hagbourne to Inverness.”

Mr Wright said he had been out for an evening cycle last Tuesday night and was riding up Oxford Road towards the Twelve Acre Drive roundabout when a car tried to pass him.

He added: “A car overtook me very dangerously, which involved me swerving into the kerb and crashing my bike. As the car moved past there was a bus coming the other way, so they swerved. I moved to the side of the road, but hit a pothole, putting me right into the kerb."

Although Mr Wright was not injured, his £1,000 bike was badly damaged with both tyres punctured, the back wheel buckled and the chain and sprocket damaged.

Mr Wright thought he might have to cancel his charity cycle, despite having already raised £1,200 for the two charities.

Repairs cost him £235 for two new wheels, a chain, gear cable and back sprocket, but Mr Wright said the charity ride will still go ahead.

He added: “I was gutted, angry and upset. I have put so much money into the bike.

“If it were to get hit again it would put a lot of strain on the finances to get it prepared in time.

“I bought new wheels, I bought a GoPro camera, so money is very tight.

“With any more damage it would be game over.”

If all goes to plan, Mr Wright will set off from Inverness on the week-long charity adventure on Monday, September 21.

He is aiming to arrive back at his work at Little Acorns Nursery in West Hagbourne on September 27.

  • To support him, visit justgiving.com/sean-wright7