Dozens of cyclists will take to the streets this week as a tribute to a badly-injured safety campaigner.
Thursday marks a year since veteran cyclist John Radford was badly injured in an incident in New Mill, Huddersfield.
He was left with serious head injuries and brain damage and although he is now out of hospital, he is expected to spend some considerable time in a special rehabilitation unit in York.
His family and friends will set off from Huddersfield railway station at 6.30pm on Thursday in a tribute ride out to New Mill.
The event is being organised by friend and fellow cyclist Clr Martyn Bolt.
He said: “We’re billing it as “A ride to remember’ and it is a tribute to John who was badly injured a year ago and to other injured cyclists.
“John is still receiving treatment for his injuries and I hope as many people as possible will come along to join the ride.
“We want them all to remember the man as he was and to mark the fact that he and his family did so much to try and make cycling safe for everyone”.
John’s daughter Emma Boyes will be one of those getting on a bike for the ride.
She said: “Dad is now in a rehabilitation unit in York but unfortunately a lot of the work he was meant to be doing has had to be postponed because of the state of his health.
“He has just recovered from a bout of pneumonia and he needs to be 100% healthy for the physiotherapy they want him to go through.
“He needs the special rehab work they are proposing but it is a long-term thing because of the injuries he sustained.
“We don’t think he will ever get back to the man he was but we hope he can see an improvement in the quality of his life”.
Mr Radford, 70, of Meltham was chairman of the Huddersfield Cyclists Touring Club and a champion of two wheels.
His family have taken up the campaign especially since cycling’s profile has never been higher following the Tour de France’s Grand Depart in Yorkshire earlier this month.
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