A SCHOOLGIRL inspired by the 10,000 mile journey of a Chester triathlete left critically ill after a road accident has raised funds for her cause.
Charlotte Roach, 23, of Housesteads Drive, Hoole, had to learn to walk again after a head-on collision during her cycle training.
The crash in 2009 left her with two punctured lungs, 12 fractured vertebrae, broken ribs and a broken collarbone. But despite her critical injuries, Charlotte entered an elite European Cup triathlon after just six months and finished fourth.
She attributed her survival to the expertise of a Leicester Tigers rugby physio who came to her aid at the roadside and to the air ambulance, to whom she said she “owes her life”.
Charlotte, who was in training for the London 2012 Olympics at the time of the accident, embarked on an epic 10,000-mile journey from Beijing to the UK with the Olympic torch to raise money for the air ambulance service.
Ten-year-old Tilly McClelland read Charlotte's amazing story in the Leader's sister paper the Standard last week and mum Cheryl said her daughter was “totally in awe” of the athlete.
Cheryl, of Queen’s Park, said: “Tilly is a quiet and determined young child and I think seeing what Charlotte has done definitely inspired her.”
Tilly, along with schoolmates Ali Roberts and Emma Beattie, set about making leaflets and posters for a bake sale which took place at Christleton Primary School last week.
After a week of advertising the event, with the support of head teacher David Harker, the group set up a break time stall and were overwhelmed by the support they received from their peers.
Cheryl, 45, added: “She had made sure to put all the salient points about what Charlotte had gone through on the leaflets and a lot of them had gone onto the Just Giving page to look at what had happened to Charlotte and how she was getting on.
“She even managed to get the helmet that Charlotte was wearing when she had her accident which came in a police bag.
“I spoke to Charlotte’s mum and I said it must have been horrible to see that but she looked at it in a positive way and said it was good to see the thing that saved her life.”
Tilly, who has been a vegetarian since the age of five and even wrote to Tony Blair when she was six after a holiday to Spain to express her opposition to bull fighting, has high hopes to become a vet one day.
The determined little girl, with the help of her friends, raised £125 for the cause, joined by a host of other donors who also read Charlotte’s story in the Standard last week.
To donate go to www.justgiving.com/ Charlotte-Roach or for more news about Charlotte’s journey, read her blog on www.fuzzytravel.com/ charliroach
Charlotte, who has been supported by Olympic medal winner Dame Kelly Holmes throughout her journey, is due home in Chester at the end of the month.