AN EAST Croydon cyclist who lost his leg when he fell from a cliff is now teaching adults and teenagers with mental disabilities how to ride a bike.
Jim Bush was on a work secondment in New Zealand with his accountancy firm 20 years ago when he went climbing up Mount Hopeless with crampons and ice picks.
"There was a wonderful snowy peak and we thought it would be good to reach the top," the 48-year-old said.
"But on the way down, I slipped on a snow slope and went skidding down the mountain.
"I knew how to use my crampons but they wouldn't catch. My fellow climbers saw me tumble over the edge of some sharp rocks and thought I was gone forever."
However, Mr Bush was caught by a rock jutting out of the mountain side.
"Someone came down to find out what was left of me but we were in the middle of nowhere and it took 24 hours to reach a hospital," he said.
The former triathlete went through four amputations after gangrene set in and now has a prosthetic leg above the knee.
After he returned to Croydon, he volunteered for the London Cycling Campaign. It was when he moved to the Croydon branch that he met Liz Mincer, a parent who wanted to set up a cycling class for people with disabilities.
The Park Hill resident said: "I joined in 2002 when Liz ran the classes. Back then it was a real struggle to get funding and we bought specialist bikes second hand off eBay."
In 2007, Mrs Mincer moved away and the project was taken over by Wheels for Wellbeing, which managed to secure more than £330,000 from the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) four years ago.
"It meant we could really splash out on staff and new bikes, some of which cost up to £4,000 with wheelchairs on the front," Mr Bush said.
In September, the BLF came to film Mr Bush and his class, which is run at the Croydon Sports Arena from 9.30am to noon on Tuesdays.
He said: "Hopefully, we will have our funding extended, otherwise we will fall off a cliff.
"These classes are very important, it's about empowerment. Most of the people who come here are told all the time they can't do this, can't do that.
"This gives you back your sense of freedom. And it's good to be outside, taking exercise in the fresh air."
Phil Hazel, who works at Priory School in South Norwood, said the teenagers he brought to the arena every week looked forward to it all the time.
He said: "They get a huge amount of enjoyment from it and stimulation. They like the wind in their faces. There are bikes here for all types of disabilities, come rain or snow."
For more information, visit www.wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk or call 020 7346 8482.
