A brave athlete raced through fire and climbed over filthy obstacles to triumph in a gruelling assault course – despite only having ONE LEG.
James Hazel spent hours hopping over the tough 8km Spartan race assault course, helped only by crutches, as he raised a whopping £1,000 to help pay for a new limb.
The lad was just 21 when had to have a leg amputated after an horrific motorbike accident in 2013, when he was hit by a tractor, a lorry, a van and a car.
But the 24-year-old is hoping to get his life back on track with a £70,000 prosthetic – which he has to pay for himself.
James, of Greenhithe, Kent, spent months in a wheelchair but is determined to get back to an active lifestyle and is currently getting about on crutches.
But he was flabbergasted when a letter from the Insurance Charities – which helps those who have worked in the industry – dropped through his letter box with a pledge of £35,000.
He said: “I’d been applying everywhere for grants but was starting to get a bit down with it, because I hadn’t heard anything back from anyone.
“Then I got a call from the Insurance Charities who said they’d be sending over a substantial amount.
“I thought maybe, £3,000? But when I saw £35,000 on the letter I couldn’t believe it, I wasn’t expecting anything like that.
“I’ll keep going to raise this money for as long as it takes, but it was starting to look like it was going to be years.
“This has really given me a positive push and it’s made this goal look far more achievable.”
The Insurance Charities’ chief executive Annali-Joy Thornicroft said: “James contacted us as the charity which helps past and present insurance people and their families who are faced with hardship following a tragedy or difficult life event.
“We hope that our pledge, to meet half of the total cost of the prosthetic, will enable James to reach the target amount soon and that the new leg will help him get back to work and enjoy the active life he had before tragedy struck.”
James’ latest fundraising initiative was the Spartan race through the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London.
There were 20 obstacles over 8km, including ropes and walls to climb which were a huge challenge, but he managed it with just one leg.
Together with a team of about ten others, including friends, his dad, girlfriend and his sister’s boyfriend, they managed to raise about £1,200 – putting his total to £41,000.
James did not use his current NHS prosthetic during the run, because it does not support any weight when bent so is useless on slopes, steps or uneven ground.
Formerly a keen sportsman, James also has plans in the pipeline for a hockey tournament in May to help raise more money.
