A BRECON man who broke his back is hoping to take part in a charity bike ride in aid of Brecon Mountain Rescue (BMRT).

Simon Penny, who has spent the last four months recovering from serious spinal and neck injuries sustained when he was mountain biking on a bridleway at the Crug, to the north of Brecon.

The 41-year-old married father of two flew over a bump and was thrown more than 12 metres before landing on his head in late July.

He suffered a fractures neck and broken back as well as lacerations to his head and was attended to by members of the BMRT before being airlifted to hospital in Cardiff by an RAF Sea King helicopter.

Simon is now hoping to give a little back to the paramedics and BMRT who provided him with the vital help he needed to make a recovery and take part in the first ever Father Christmas fancy dress charity bike ride on Sunday, December 14.

The bike ride is to take part in association with Andrew Powell of the BBNP Visitor Centre, Brecon Barbarians Cylcing Club and Bikes and Hikes and will kick off at 11.30am from the visitors centre and follow a short route across Mynydd Illtyd.

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