WORK is due to start this week to adapt the home of a man paralysed in biking accident on Ilkley Moor.

More than £75,000 has been raised by the local community for the renovation of the Addingham home of Jaime Lunn.

The 46-year-old father of two came off his mountain bike on Ilkley Moor on April 25, last year, sustaining spinal injuries at C6 level, leaving him with no sensation below his chest.

After spending months in hospital he was finally allowed home on November 13, but that home needs adapting to allow himself and his family - partner Caroline McCullough and their children Florence, nine, and Seth, aged seven - to lead as normal a life as possible.

The house is not suitable for someone in a wheelchair, with carpets, narrow doors and no accessible bathroom or kitchen.

The Jaime’s Journey committee, set up to assist Jaime with his rehabilitation and road to recovery, are delighted to announce that plans have been drawn up and finalised. The work to begin the remodelling of their home will commence this week.

The re-build is expected to take four months and will mean that Jaime, Caroline, Florence and Seth will slowly be able to return to a more stable life by this summer. Over the weekend a group of 20 or so friends and members of the community - known as Jaime’s Army- mobilised to help the family move into their temporary accommodation prior to the build.

The family’s heartfelt thanks go out to all who donated on Jaime’s initial Just Giving page which meant that this crucial project could commence so rapidly. Further thanks also go to the tradespeople and professionals who gave up their time to make this possible. In particular: Alexis Bamford (architect); Mark Scratchard /MAS (architect); Robert Hodgkiss (building surveyor); Philip Croft (building contractor) and Mark Ridley (building contractor).

The committee has also received pledges of free assistance from local tradesmen to help with the build.

A spokesman for the committee said: “This is only the start of a long process for the family as Jaime will need intensive rehabilitation over the coming 12 months and beyond and a new “Just Giving” page has been set up titled “Jaime’s Journey” for members of the community and general public to contribute to:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jaimesjourney?utm_term=ZkXAaD5jk

Other initiatives to raise funds are also underway including exercise campaigns at both Addingham Primary School and Ilkley Grammar School. There is also an Addingham Treasure Trail (devised by Helen Brooks) with all profits going to Jaime’s’ Journey. You can pick up details from Addingham Newsagents and Addingham Sandwich Shop.