Fundraising for bid to bring Alan home nears £14k

Fundraising to help the family of a Telford man to bring him home after a cycling accident has now reached almost £14,000.

Sarah, left, holding Elliott, Celia, Andrew and Louise around Alan's bed on Christmas Day

The family of Alan Jenkins says he has found it an "emotional time" seeing the response from people who have given so generously to help with their appeal.

His family need to raise £15,000 to help get their father Alan some normality, after he was paralysed from the chest down.

Now, the total on their fundraising page is over £13,500.

Alan has been away from his home since September, when he almost died in a crash during the New Forest 103-mile cycling sportive.

He suffered a spinal cord injury and was airlifted to the neuro-intensive care unit in Southampton

His family were told he was unlikely to survive, but he pulled through. Later they were told he may never come off his ventilator, but after being moved to the critical care unit in Stoke, he was weaned off it and was able to able to breathe independently, swallow and enjoy his first meal since the accident.

Alan Jenkins is now able to sit in a wheelchair, but without the use of his arms his family want to get him a wheelchair he may be able to operate himself

Moved to the Midlands centre for spinal injury in Oswestry in January, he underwent physiotherapy that allowed him to sit in a wheelchair.

He has made phenomenal strides in his treatment – but his family now say they need to raise money to bring him home and to enable him to live more normally.

Since April, he has been at the Morris Care Centre in Wellington. The family home that he and wife Celia lived in for 21 years has been sold and the couple have bought a nearby bungalow in St Georges more suitable for his needs.

But it needs adaptations to make it suitable for his needs. The family also needs a wheelchair accessible vehicle for him and want to be able to buy him a wheelchair with technology that will allow him to move it himself.

Son Andrew, 25, quantity surveyor who now lives in Kent, said: "People have been very generous.

"Dad has found it very emotional, people who he has not seen for a number of years have been getting in contact and have made donations."

The family have sent a message of thanks to everyone who has donated so far.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/alanjenkins