Eleven years ago Colin Fisher was nearly paralysed in a skiing accident. This weekend he takes on an epic endurance challenge for Spinal Research to support his close friend paralysed in a freak cycling crash.
Colin is among four members of the Islington Cycling Club taking on the gruelling London-Edinburgh-London Audax – a 1,530km (950 miles) ride that must be completed in under 128 hours.
The Club is supporting us after popular member James ‘Gino’ Murphy was paralysed from the shoulders down. “This is not just another ride, it really means a lot to me and I think it’s going to be very emotional,” said 65-year-old Colin from Islington.
“When I suffered my own serious spinal injury in 2014, I needed a six-hour operation to replace shattered vertebra with a titanium cage and to have titanium poles inserted down my spine to support me for the rest of my life.
“I was unbelievably lucky that day. I walked away but my good friend Gino didn’t. This is for him and to support the work Spinal Research is doing to bring function, movement and hope back to people like Gino paralysed after a spinal cord injury.”
Colin will be joined on the Audax challenge by fellow club member Mike Maurice-Cohen, 61, who was with Gino when he came off his bike on a long descent, hitting a kerb headfirst in an impact that seriously damaged his spinal cord.
“Gino was behind us and so we didn’t see what happened but it was just awful and it’s something I think about all the time,” said Mike from Camden.
“You just feel so helpless and you want to fix it and make everything right, but you can’t. This is what we can do, although it’s going to be incredibly tough.”
James 'Gino' Murphy paralysed from the shoulders down after a freak cycling crash
"It’s been hard for me, but so hard for my wife and children. It's felt at times like our future has been taken away… but I'm learning to enjoy each moment that life presents with the amazing support of my family and ICC friends."
Gino, 66, was airlifted to hospital where he spent just over two months before being transferred to Stanmore Spinal Injuries Unit where the enormity of his life-changing accident became all too real.
“When most of your body doesn’t function anymore it’s incredibly tough to suddenly become that dependent and that vulnerable,” said the father-of-two.
“It’s been hard for me but so hard for my wife and children. It has felt at times like our future has been taken away and we’re living with a bereavement for the life we were going to have.
“But one of the things I am learning to do is to enjoy each moment that life presents with the amazing support of family and ICC friends. They have helped me make sense of and start to come to terms with where I am now. I’ve been completely overwhelmed by their friendship.”
Islington CC has chosen Spinal Research as their 2025 charity of the year and have already raised more than £10,000 towards their £20,000 target. To support Team Gino click below.
Team Gino
