Dave Broadway (57) is Managing Director of hybrid mail company, CFH Docmail Ltd and Bath-based fossil fuel free bicycle letter delivery service, Velopost. A serious runner since 2001, until last year, he routinely ran thirty miles a week.

In 2015, a broken hip threatened to end his running career, but after an incredible fight back, in March 2016 he returns to the track to raise funds for The Forever Friends Appeal and the RUH Cancer Care Campaign.

In February 2014, Dave was invited by Hays Recruitment to take part in a cycle pursuit race at the London Velodrome. After a successful practise run, as he crossed the finishing line, the automatic reaction to freewheel kicked in, the bike stopped and the front tyre exploded, throwing Dave to the ground at 26 miles per hour.

He was taken to hospital in East London, where it was established that the head of his femur was broken, resulting in the insertion of a dynamic hip screw which employs four screws and a metal plate to hold the joint (which is notoriously difficult to heal) together.

Home after three days, he immediately started walking, which would be the first stage to recovery and within three weeks, was able to walk three miles without a walking stick or crutches. Once he had built up to four or five miles, he began to add gym work and stretching to increase the movement and functionality of his leg.

The speed with which functionality had been lost was surprising, but the nerve damage meant it was essential to get everything working as quickly as possible. Cycling and rowing were then added to the non-impact mix to help build muscle.

In August, the surgeon at the RUH in Bath, who had been overseeing the recovery process, agreed that running on grass could be introduced. This proved to be the hardest part of all, despite Dave’s extensive running history, in fact more challenging than when he had first taken up running seventeen years earlier. He says: “My legs just wouldn’t move, some of my mobility has gone for good – I still struggle to put my socks on.”

However, gradually things improved and Dave began road running, building from a four mile run, to a ten mile outing recently.

Now he is preparing to take part in the Bath Half Marathon and whilst his time may not match his personal best of 1:53, or even his 2014 time of 1:58, all the signs are that he will finish in under 2:30.

Dave will be running for The Forever Friends Appeal, which CFH have supported for a number of years. He will be joined in running the Half Marathon by his wife, daughter and other members of CFH staff and he is hoping to raise £10,000 for the charity.

Dave says: “I think it’s likely that every family in Britain has been touched by cancer to a greater or lesser degree. Last year was particularly bad for myself and the team at CFH, as we lost a number of good friends, colleagues and ex-colleagues.

“This year, we are once again the key sponsor for The Forever Friends Appeal’s ‘Ted’s Team’ at the Bath Half Marathon through our Velopost division. This is our third time at being the main sponsor and to date we have reached almost £17,000 of donations.

“So as we approach this year’s Bath Half, I really want to put something back into the NHS – both in gratitude for fixing me, but also in memory and tribute to the good friends that I have lost this year.”

The Bath Half is a fantastic personal challenge whilst raising funds for a cause close to your heart. The Forever Friends Appeal is encouraging people to join CFH Docmail and Velopost and sign up to run in Ted’s Team. You can run as a group from work by creating a Corporate Team competing in Big Ted’s Corporate Challenge. Silver Bond places for The Forever Friends Appeal are still available now and can be purchased for a £35 initial donation, with a pledge to raise a further minimum sponsorship of £175 for The Forever Friends Appeal. 

For details, visit: www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk or call: 01225 825823. If you would like to join Ted’s Team but have another department in the hospital that you would like to support, please call.