A man with a life-altering spinal cord injury is looking to inspire people as he makes his way across Canada by modified bicycle.
Kevin Mills, who is from Newmarket, suffered a spinal cord injury, which led to him being diagnosed with quadriplegia.
Following a surgical procedure, Mills was then able to use his arms, which allowed him to use a modified handcycle.
He’s also making the journey with the help of his trainer, Nikki Davenport.
“The logistics are a huge part of the trip. We had to purchase a modified RV with a lift so I can get in and out, and then there’s my bike, which is attached to my wheelchair, and everything is so specialized,” Mills said in an interview with Bayshore News.
Another big part of the trek across the county is the route that the pair are taking.
Mills explains that the overall terrain isn’t a concern for him, saying “I can go over a rough road or up a big hill, but I can’t get over a curb.”
He says that he got the idea for the ride during his physiotherapy sessions when he and Davenport would go for bike rides in the evenings when she then asked if he wanted to cycle across Canada.
“It’s about getting me out and showing that this is possible, so other people get inspired… so we are raising money and afterward that money will be used to fund [other] people’s activity-based therapy programs.”
Mills and Davenport set out from Cape Spear, Newfoundland on May 24th, and are hoping to reach their final destination in Tofino, BC by the end of September.
The plan is to pass through Owen Sound to Lion’s Head, then travel from Lion’s Head to Tobermory on July 21st and 22nd.
The pair is raising funds for their ride through pedalingpossibilities.ca.
