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Trust Fund Set-up for Jonny Bellis

Story posted January 20, Source, Richard Allen.

A Trust Fund has been set up to help cover the costs of medical treatment for cyclist Jonny Bellis. The 21-year-old from Douglas is still in hospital in London and undergoing a long process of rehabilitation after a motor scooter crash in September last year. Bellis, a professional rider with the Saxo Bank team, hopes to race again but will need to stay in the Wellington Hospital in St John’s Wood until April to complete his treatment.

This involves extensive physiotherapy to help him regain weight and strength lost in the four months since he suffered serious head injuries. Hospital fees are £10,000 per month but doctors say his treatment at the hospital, which specialises in treating patients who have suffered serious head injuries, is vital if he is to make a swift and full recovery.

Jonny Bellis on the right after winning a Bronze medal in the Under 23 World Road Race championship.

Before Christmas, members of the Manx Road Club, where Bellis began his racing career as a youth, met for a prize presentation and several members discussed raising money to help their club mate in his hour of need. Club chairman Bill Ward said it was decided to set up the Jonathan Bellis Trust Fund to help the cyclist and his family. Mr Ward says the plan initially is to organise sponsored bike rides to raise money, but he hopes that other sports clubs in the Island will also help to organise their own fundraising events.

"Everyone knows what Jonny has achieved as a bike rider and how he has been a fine ambassador for the Isle of Man and for his sport,’ said Mr Ward. But club members wanted to help Jonny because he is a lovely guy and everyone involved in cycling, from the Manx Road Club and all other clubs here, was saddened to hear of his accident."

"We are giving out sponsor forms to anyone who wants to raise money for the fund which will go towards covering the costs of his medical treatment. Everyone involved in cycling in the Isle of Man looks forward to the day when we can see Jonny back on his bike and the aim of the trust fund is make that day happen as soon as possible."

Mr Ward said that anyone was welcome to help raise money and that if someone wanted to just collect sponsors then a Manx Road Club rider could be nominated to take part in a fundraising cycle ride. Jonny Bellis’s father John, an officer in the Isle of Man fire and rescue service, said he was grateful for the Manx Road Club initiative and said that he was fully supportive of the setting up of the trust fund.

Jonny Bellis was in an induced coma for almost a month after the motor scooter accident in Italy on September 19. He suffered serious head injuries in the crash, which happened near the town of Quarrata in Tuscany. In 2007 he won a bronze medal at the under-23 World Road Race Championships becoming the first male British road cyclist to win a World Championship medal since 1967.

In 2008 he represented Great Britain in the road race at the Beijing Olympics. He has also won British and European medals on the track at junior and senior level and represented the Isle of Man at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Anyone wishing to help raise money for the Jonathan Bellis Trust Fund contact Bill Ward on 825723 for a sponsor form. The Manx Road Club website, www.manxroadclub.com, will soon have a sponsor form that can be printed off by anyone wanting to raise funds.