Riders tackle 24-hour for Crake

New Zealand Commonwealth Games representative Matt Randall and Alan Dunn will tackle a 24-hour endurance event at the ILT Velodrome this Friday night in a bid to raise $5,000 for Paul Crake, reports The Southland Times.

Mark Inglis, who lost both legs after being trapped in an ice cave while climbing Mt Cook in 1982, has pledged $500 to the pair's efforts after hearing of the fundraiser while shooting a documentary in Queenstown for Discovery Channel. Inglis' sports food company, Peak Fuel, will also supply the pair with its products for the event.

Crake, a former stair climbing champion, was seriously injured in November's Tour of Southland when he was blown from his bike in gusty conditions. The 29-year-old was paralysed after suffering a fracture to the T5 thoracic vertebrae and dislocations through to T7.

"I'm trying to work through what's happened," Crake said recently. "I'm trying to keep my mindset positive and most of the time I have an optimistic outlook because my intention is to get out of the wheelchair."

Meanwhile, doctors recently confirmed that it will be some time before it's known whether Crake will walk again. "The doctors can't specifially say yes or no and there have been people in a lot worse condition than me who have recovered fully and that provides inspiration for me," added a determined Crake.