Joy Derbyshire from Southwold has walked 100km and raised hundreds of pounds for a charity that helped rehabilitate the man whose life she saved nine years ago. And she’s not planning to stop there
Joy Derbyshire is more than fulfilling her promise to raise vital funds for the Spinal Injuries Association – the charity that helped rehabilitate the man whose life she saved. Joy, 62, from Southwold, has so far raised £440 for the Association following her being reunited with Brian Abrams on TV in June, the man who credits her with saving his life after a cycling accident in 2013.
Brian had been cycling in Broadbottom Tameside just outside Manchester when he lost control and plunged off the side of a bridge hitting a tree and into the river below. Joy, who happened to be walking her dogs at the time, says: ‘I heard a cry and spotted someone in the river and rushed to Brian’s assistance.’
Without her alerting some other passers-by who helped lift his head out of the water to save him from drowning whilst she called for help, Brian would have almost certainly died. Following the accident Joy spent years wondering whether Brian had survived the accident which has resulted in him living the rest of his life with a complete spinal cord injury that has left him paraplegic and a full-time wheelchair user.
It was only by a chance encounter on social media that they managed to meet up again earlier this year when the pair were re-united on the BBC’s One show. Joy was so inspired by his recovery that she set about raising funds for the Spinal Injuries Association that helped guide and support him during his rehabilitation and provides ongoing care and support for thousands with spinal cord injuries. As she says on her Just Giving page: ‘My first aid skills and fitness from being a PE teacher allowed me to be calm and know what to do, so when we met I promised him I would find a way to raise some money for one of his favourite charities.’
To raise money Joy fulfilled a lifelong ambition and walked the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage of Medieval Origin to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, in North Western Spain, covering 100km in just six days. Her walking partner was her Spanish cousin, Mariana, who lives in La Coruna, in Northern Spain.
Joy says: ‘When Brian and I were re-united earlier this year there was a real bond that is hard to explain, and I promised him I would find a way to raise money for one of his favourite charities.’
To date Joy has raised £440 but has plans to raise more for the Spinal Injuries Association next year by courageously taking part in a wing walk.
Speaking about her fundraising efforts, Brian says: ‘It’s wonderful that Joy was inspired to do this following our meeting, for such an important charity. I congratulate her on this fantastic achievement.’
Brian has written a series of successful Children’s Books since his accident called ‘The Adventures of Grandad Wheels!’ with all the proceeds going to charity. He also visits schools to help to educate young people about disability and break down myths. So far more than 14,000 children and teaching staff have heard Brian speak about his experiences.
If you would like to find out more about Joy’s fundraising efforts, visit justgiving.com. For more on Brian’s books, visit Grandad Wheels. Also, visit Spinal Injuries Association.
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