A police officer was left with career-changing injuries after his patrol car was rammed by the driver of a stolen van.
Neil Jones can no longer do his job on the front line after 21-years of service for Cheshire Constabulary due to the serious injuries he suffered during a police chase in January 2019.
The attack happened during a pursuit in Helsby, Cheshire, where the police officer stopped the driver of the van, who then proceeded to purposely smash into his car.
The 41-year-old, originally from Runcorn, told Cheshire Live: "It wasn't until I got out of the car and stood up that I realised something was wrong and that was it for seven months.
"I sustained several injuries to the discs in my spine which has resulted in a condition called Radiculopathy.
"This injury has caused issues with my arms and legs on the left-hand side of my body, causing massively reduced sensation, control and feeling within them."
The injuries left Neil unable to do his front line job and he has been reassigned to an office-based role within the force.
"I drive a desk now," he said.
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Faced with the prospect of a career change or possibly early retirement the 41-year-old's mental health took a dip, having previously been diagnosed with depression and severe anxiety.
To make matters worse, once a keen runner and member of the Northwich Running club, he was also unable to continue walking and running for pleasure and exercise.
Neil said: "Impact sports were now impossible and not recommended by the medical experts."
It was at this point that the father-of-two took to cycling and stand-up paddleboarding as low impact alternatives.
Neil said: "I found that cycling was a sport and exercise that I could do with minimal pain or discomfort.
"Cycling was all I could do.
"I started cycling, taking the children to school on their bikes each day, encouraging them and teaching them road safety along the way.
"From this, I picked up my distances and times, using a second-hand mountain bike that I picked up.
"It was during these rides that I found that I was able to clear my head, organise my thoughts and straighten things out. I also came up with a plan to try and raise some money for charity and find a challenge to aim for.
"A challenge that was difficult, not easily achievable.
"The road is my gym now and cycling has given me a real sense of purpose".
Neil, along with a number of police colleagues, will be undertaking a charity bicycle ride on May 22 in aid of the Mental Health and Well Being charity, MIND.
The charity ride has been dubbed "The Thin Blue Loop" which is a play on words of "The Thin Blue Line".
The 138-mile route forms a large loop, starting at the Cheshire Constabulary headquarters in Winsford and visits 15 other police stations along the way.
"We'll be stopping for a short break at each station, around 10 minutes or so, and jumping straight back into the saddle to push onwards to our goal.
"Training is going well and it has given me a real sense of purpose.
"In these strange times of COVID restrictions and negative news in general, I'd like to try and give a positive spin on a situation that was initially negative but turned on its head for the good."
Donations to the Thin Blue Loop can be made here.
