Norway man rides north to south in wheelchair
A man has started journey from Nordkapp, Norway’s most northerly point, to Tønsberg in the south to raise money for a cancer charity.
Vidar Ormestøyl has now been on the road for two days, battling rain and headwinds. He uses ski poles to propel his wheelchair. His goal is to travel ten kilometres a day.
Ormestøyl has not been lucky when it comes to health issues. In 1993, the now 58-year-old man was diagnosed with a rare condition, Guillain Barre Syndrome that left his entire body paralysed for eight months.
The condition occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the nervous system.
“It took me six years before I was properly on my feet, but the after-effects of the disease still affect me. That’s why I cannot ride on a bicycle,” he told Norway’s NRK broadcaster.
Then, in 2013, Ormestøyl developed lymphoma, a deadly form of cancer. After radiation and chemotherapy, Ormestøyl recovered, but he could not forget the people he met in hospital who were not so fortunate.
“It went really well for me, but I saw a lot of tragedy in the cancer hospital. In particular children who were not so lucky, I think it’s important for me to put the spotlight on them,” he said.
“I'm collecting money for a riding camp for young families that have been hit by cancer,” he continued “I have chosen the charity because they specialise in children with cancer.”
Ormestøyl is now asking others to join him on his journey on bicycles, roller skates or anything else with wheels.
You can follow his travels on Facebook.
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Vidar Ormestøyl has now been on the road for two days, battling rain and headwinds. He uses ski poles to propel his wheelchair. His goal is to travel ten kilometres a day.
Ormestøyl has not been lucky when it comes to health issues. In 1993, the now 58-year-old man was diagnosed with a rare condition, Guillain Barre Syndrome that left his entire body paralysed for eight months.
The condition occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the nervous system.
“It took me six years before I was properly on my feet, but the after-effects of the disease still affect me. That’s why I cannot ride on a bicycle,” he told Norway’s NRK broadcaster.
Then, in 2013, Ormestøyl developed lymphoma, a deadly form of cancer. After radiation and chemotherapy, Ormestøyl recovered, but he could not forget the people he met in hospital who were not so fortunate.
“It went really well for me, but I saw a lot of tragedy in the cancer hospital. In particular children who were not so lucky, I think it’s important for me to put the spotlight on them,” he said.
“I'm collecting money for a riding camp for young families that have been hit by cancer,” he continued “I have chosen the charity because they specialise in children with cancer.”
Ormestøyl is now asking others to join him on his journey on bicycles, roller skates or anything else with wheels.
You can follow his travels on Facebook.
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