Inverness man completes gruelling Highland Cross with broken arm
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A determined Highland Cross competitor wasn’t going to let a little thing like a broken arm suffered halfway through the gruelling charity fundraiser stop him from crossing the finish line.
Mark Georgeson (48) was already an inspiration ahead of Saturday’s 50-mile event after his life was thrown upside down in 2018 when his bike was hit by a van travelling at 50 miles per hour near Muir of Ord.
Suffering a traumatic brain injury, broken neck and back, collapsed lung, and a pelvic bleed he spent five weeks in a coma after the accident, which occurred just a week after his first Highland Cross outing.
“I was told that I would never walk again or that I would be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life,” he said
“My life completely changed that day. The brain injury was the worst part of it all and I had to learn how to talk and walk again.”
Never an option to let what had happened get the better of him, in the months and years that followed he committed himself to recovery and on Saturday was delighted the be at the start line for the 2023 Highland Cross, which raises thousands of pounds annually for a range of good causes.
“I was so determined to get well again, and I was back on the bike within a year of the accident.
“It’s been a mental journey over the past five years, and I’ve learned a level of patience that I didn’t have before.”
Patience has not been the only learning for Mark as he has also discovered how kind people are throughout his recovery.
“When you watch the news, it can seem like there are so many bad things happening in the world, but for me, I’ve seen so much of the good that is present, and how many incredible people there are out there," he said.
“Everyone who I have encountered over the past five years has been so kind, and there are so many incredible people in this world – you’ve just got to give them a chance.
“I had to learn to be vulnerable and to ask for help because I couldn’t have done any of this on my own.”
It was no doubt that mental strength stood him in good stead when, 7km before the end of the first section on Saturday, while running, he fell.
“There were walkers there who got me up and gave me ibuprofen,” he said.
“I walked for a few minutes and then I continued to run. I spent 10 minutes in transition onto my bike, which was longer than I planned.
“I cycled on my forearms, and it was agony, but I knew the route and was determined to finish.
“When I crossed the finish line the onsite doctor checked me over and told me to see how it was after a night’s sleep.
“I went to A&E the next morning and it was a clean break in the elbow – I am now in a sling for the next week.”
Mark’s recovery since 2018 is the subject of a documentary short being put together by Lynne Paterson who works for head injuries charity Headway Highland which has been supporting him along the way.
She was there to record his Highland Cross return and said: “I was at the finish line at this past run and he did look in agony as he crossed! But it just shows his determination and drive.”
The last few years have been tough for Mark, but he has received tremendous mental health support and care from the NHS along the way. The father of three has given his advice to anyone else who may be going through something similar:
“Never give up. You may have a bad day, a bad week, or a bad month, but things will get better. Just keep going.”
Mark is now looking toward taking part in Celtman Extreme Scottish Triathlon next year, which features a 3.4km swim, 200km cycle, and 42km run across two Munros.
