Wheelchair-bound Michael Dalton (51), was jubilant at the weekend after completing an extra-long marathon cycle ride – without moving a single inch!
Michael, who spends all his waking day in his wheelchair, covered 50km, eight km more than a standard marathon, on a static, upper-body, hand cycle at the Lifestyle Fitness Suite in Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre.
In the process, he raised over £250 for the Mayor of Great Aycliffe’s appeal for the Renal unit/Ward 4 of James Cook University Hospital and other local charities.
Michael’s mother, 90-year-old Mary Dalton, is this year’s Mayor of Newton Aycliffe and was with him throughout the marathon.
After completing the fund-raising ride, a delighted Michael, who has battled both spina bifida and kidney failure since the day he was born, admitted: “All I want to do now is to sleep for a week.”
Before heading home to relax, Michael found time to thank Sarah O’Hare and the staff of Lifestyle Fitness for their help and allowing him free use of the gym for his training and the marathon itself as well as his supporters for their sponsorship.
Michael is a well-known local councillor, former Mayor of Great Aycliffe and member of the town’s Rotary Club. He is still collecting donations for the renal unit and can be contacted on 01325 320499 or mobile 07954 290711.