Inspirational James tells of triumph over disaster

remember clearly the first time I moved my legs, then I stood for ten seconds before I passed out with the pain. I just slowly built it up until I could walk again.”

He decided to change his life and give something back to cancer research and the people who had saved him by cycling long distances for charity – despite only ever cycling five miles around the local reservoir previously. “I didn’t want to go back to the life I had before,” said James. “I’d been a young man in my 20s working hard and enjoying myself, but after the cancer I felt I’d put value on the wrong things. I wanted to make a difference.” Since then James has raised more than £3million for charity and has ridden across the US, Mexico, Spain and France. He has pedalled from London to Paris six times, as well as John o’ Groats to Land’s End, and carries out motivational speaking engagements. He has completed the Haute Route, across the Alps, Pyrenees and Dolomites eight times – more than any other Brit.

But on his first ridede across America he was hit by a truck.

Remarkably, he escaped caped the crash with only three brokenroken ribs and a smashed elbow.

After leaving hospitalal he met his future wife Louise in a bar.

Doctors had told Jamesmes there “was more chance of thee moon hitting the earth” than of f him having children because e of his chemotherapy.

And Louise, 32, hadad also been told she could ld never have children afterer stomach and bowelel problems aged 13.

But the pair celebrateded the arrival of their first rst child Freddie in Septembermber 2011. In the run-up to the