A YOUNG Caithness woman is recovering in hospital after her Malawian charity cycle ended in disaster.
Watten-born Sarah Henderson's gruelling challenge came to an abrupt end after she was hit by a car last Wednesday.
Sarah had been three days into the cycle from the country's capital, Lilongwe, to Blantyre when a car involved in an overtaking manoeuvre struck her.
She was taken to a hospital in Blantyre before being transferred by air ambulance to Johannesburg, South Africa.
She sustained a broken bone in her right arm and damaged her vertebrae as a result of the accident, and has been on halo traction since.
Yesterday, Sarah's mum, Joyce, said that her daughter was managing to keep her spirits up.
"Sarah's not a complainer, she takes everything in her stride. She was so looking forward to it [the trip] and enjoying it immensely but at the moment she won't be able to carry on. It was very worrying. With her being so far away there's nothing I could do."
At the moment Sarah does not have any plans to resume the challenge. It is not known how long it will take her to recover from her injuries.
Joyce added: "There's no confirmation of time – it depends on how quickly she heals. She's taking every day as it comes. She seems quite cheery and says she's doing all right. Her plan is to get better. That's all I can say at the moment. It just takes time."
Sarah was following in the footsteps of her great-great-uncle, Dr James Henderson, who went out to Malawi as a missionary in 1895.
She was one of 30 people from various parts of the world who signed up for the 280-mile cycling trip in aid of Central Church of Africa Presbyterian hospitals in southern Malawi.
Sarah, a midwife, splits her work commitments between Raigmore and Caithness General Hospital.
She had raised over £3500 for the cause.
Friday, 25 May 2007
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Sarah, I was suddened to read about your fate, you got injured for a good cause. Although your efforts ended in physical pain, you have shared your heart with those you were cycling for..............although your journey ended on the way, you have already our memories of what you wanted to achieve will remain. I wish you a quick recovery.
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