Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WATER FEAT..
Pool walk to raise vital funds
A MAN who suffered lifechanging injuries after being hit by two cars is raising money for the ICU that saved his life.
In May 2017, James Kincaid’s life changed for ever after he was struck while crossing the road, leaving him in a wheelchair and unable to walk unaided.
Following the crash, he spent six weeks in the Ulster Hospital Intensive Care Unit undergoing treatment.
And as a way of saying thank you to the doctors and nurses who saved his life, he has launched a fundraiser in order to raise some money for the ward.
James, from Dundonald i n East Belfast, has decided that in order to do this he wants to set himself a challenge, walking 20 miles around his l ocal David Lloyd’s gym swimming pool.
Walking in the water is the only time he is able to move around unaided.
James said: “I feel like I want to give back to the people in the A&E and intensive care unit at the Ulster Hospital as they saved my life.
“I received fantastic care when I had my accident, they went above and beyond the call of duty at all times. Now that I am fit enough, I have decided it is my time to give something back.
“The only thing I can do is walk in the pool with the aid of a life jacket and do lengths of it.
“Sixty-four lengths of the pool is a mile and my goal is to complete 20 miles and all the proceeds will be donated to the NHS.”
James began his fundraising effort at the beginning of last month and has so far managed to walk more than 12 miles in the pool.
Hi s mum El l en Foulis said she was very proud of efforts and praised the staff at David Lloyd for the support they have given him.
She added: “The treatment James received was incredible.
“Without their help he wouldn’t be where he is today.
“James has been determined to do something to give back to them and as walking in the pool is the only way he can do so without help, he decided this was the best way.
“We are very grateful to everyone at David Lloyd for accommodating James and helping him take on this challenge to say thanks to the wonderful staff at the Ulster Hospital.”
DUNDONALD YESTERDAY