Life is short... I have to make sure that I live it to the full says Paul Burden from Much Dewchurch (From Hereford Times)

Life is short... I have to make sure that I live it to the full says Paul Burden from Much Dewchurch

8:00am Friday 3rd September 2010 in

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IT takes great determination for anyone to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats but for Paul Burden, it will very likely involve a degree of courage very few of us can appreciate.

Like others before him, the dad-of-two wants to bike the distance for Cancer Research – but unlike most, he will be doing it with just one arm and one leg.

The 50-year-old Orange employee hopes completing the challenge will help him bounce back from an incredible ordeal that has seen him face death more than once in his life.

“I have been squarely reminded of my mortality.

Life is short. I have a responsibility to myself and my family to make sure that I live life to the full,” Paul said.

“This is what has led me to embark on ‘Paul’s Ride for Life’.”

The Much Dewchurch resident still had both of his arms when he set himself a remarkable £500,000 target in 2007, 33 years after he lost his left leg to cancer when he was just 13.

Back then, he developed secondary lung tumours and learned he would probably die but, amazingly, three years of chemotherapy saved him and he remained well until an unrelated cancer formed in his cheek three years ago.

It was then, after a ninehour operation to rebuild his face using arteries from his wrist, that Paul took up handcycling – where riders pedal with their arms – and started training for the fund-raiser.

“It was fantastic getting back on a bike after all those years, it was one of the most liberating days of my life,” he said.

Unfortunately, life had other ideas and in April 2009 his remaining scars attracted a flesh-eating bug called necrotising fasciitis that again saw him fighting to stay alive.

Doctors removed his arm but it was six days before Paul’s family knew whether he would live or die.

Now he is learning to cope with life as a double amputee, but is determined the setback will not affect his original aim.

The target date has moved to 2012 and his handbike has been replaced by a specially adapted trike, but his desire to help cancer sufferers and everyday amputees – rather than military-related ones for which organised help already exists – remains the same.

“I don’t want to detract from any of those guys because they do a fantastic job, but there are several thousand amputees who probably deserve a bit of attention too,” Paul explained.

Residents including Ionwen Williams – who raised £1,025 at a buffet evening for 100 people at Llanwarne Court Farm – have since rallied round to support Paul and launched various fund-raisers as a result.

She persuaded firms such as Allensmore Nurseries, Pengethley Garden Centre and Ravenhill Ltd to donate auction prizes, her granddaughter Zara Burman to play the clarinet and the Three Tenors from Powys to come along after her daughter told her about Paul’s challenge.

“I was so impressed with Paul I thought I had to do something,” said Ionwen, who also donated £112 to Acorns Children’s Hospice.

Now, with £4,000 already in the pot, the race is on to make sure Paul achieves his goal before he embarks on the ride of his life.

To help, make a donation, or find out about future fundraisers, visit paulsridefor life.com.