Cumbernauld mountain man Colin Shields is aiming high
11/06/12. John Devlin. CUMBERNAULD, The Village, pic of Colin Shields wheelchair user who is climbing Mount Snowdon.
Local man, Colin Shields plans to conquer Mount Snowdon in Wales for a spinal charity which has helped him come to terms with his own injury.
In 2010, while at work, Colin (32) fell from a height breaking his spine and leaving him paralysed from the chest down. Ever since he has vowed to help Back Up, a charity that specialises in encouraging people who have suffered from spinal injuries to live their lives to the full.
“I’m really excited about the climb now,” Colin said, following a successful race night fund raiser.
“The race night went really well I believe we had about 150 people there on then night, which made it a great event and helped raise a lot of money for Back Up. We raised just under £3000, but the fund raising still continues at my Just Giving site.” (www.justgiving.com/ ColinConkers)
In order to complete his challenge Colin, who lives in The Village, has had to have a special chair created. This will allow his climbing buddies to safely navigate the mountain with him.
“It’s been friends that have put the chair together. One is an engineer so that has really helped with the building process.”
Colin added: “We have also managed to get a lot of stuff off of eBay which has been great because we have been able to save a fair bit of money.”
“We are hoping to get me into the chair soon to get specific measurements to make it fit me properly. There has been a great response from people of Facebook, with friends offering to help in different ways.”
Colin and his team travel down to Wales, to take on Snowdon, in early July. And Colin gave the News an insight into the kind of activities the charity arrange.
“The climb will also raid money for Back Up,” he said. “They do a lot of activities such as abseiling and skiing. They take people on these trips to remind them that it’s a disability but it’s not the end, you can still do many things and enjoy life.”
The fund raising for Back Up will not stop at the peak of Mount Snowdon with Colin already looking to the future, determined to raise more money for charity.
“I am hoping to do more fund raising for the charity and the chair will help with that as we can use it for other events. I am hoping to do the Glasgow 10k later this year.”
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Weather for Cumbernauld
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 6 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South west
