Titanium teacher cycles to Geneva
Published: March 21, 2006
A teacher who claims to have more metal in his head than anyone else in Europe after a skiing accident, is planning a fundraising bike-ride to Switzerland.
Gavin Rees from Milford Haven, west Wales, underwent 19 hours of surgery to rebuild his face after falling 200m while on a ‘difficult’ run in the Alps.
He now boasts a total of 24 titanium plates and 131 screws in his head.
The 29-year-old said he was inspired by cycling legend Lance Armstrong to undertake the 1,000 mile challenge.
Lance Armstrong has been an inspiration to millions. He has been the most successful man ever to ride a bicycle - winning the Tour de France a record seven times. He also overcame testicular cancer at the age of 25.
“I was completely inspired to prove you can get over things, serious things that are life changing,” he said.
“It’s not a totally virtuous project, I just want to prove to myself and to everybody else that I’m the same person I always was and hopefully I’ll make it.”
Mr Rees’ journey is scheduled to begin on 16 August - setting off from Pembrokeshire to Dover, then across to Calais from where he will cycle down through France into the Alps.
“You can obviously get to Geneva in shorter than 1,000, but 1,000 has a nice ring to it,” he said.
“And to pay homage to Lance Armstrong and the Tour de France and cycling and everything else that’s kept me going for three years, we’re going to go up Alp D’Huez if we can.”
I pretty much broke every bone from my palate, to the top of my skull - cheek bones, eyes sockets, forehead, nose.
Gavin Rees
Mr Rees’ recovery has surprised even the doctors who treated him. The accident happened on a difficult (red) run.
“It was fairly serious,” he said. “We fell about 200 metres.
“When we came to a stop, I was completely motionless, when friends turned around they looked at me and thought I was dead.
“I pretty much broke every bone from my palate, to the top of my skull - cheek bones, eyes sockets, forehead, nose.”
After countless operations - including a single bout of 19-hours surgery - Mr Rees was eventually flown home to Wales where he underwent further procedures in Swansea’s Moriston Hospital.
“I’m not too badly scarred, one scar runs through my eyebrows and across the bridge of my nose,” he said
“I was cut from ear to ear across the top of my head. They left what they could but made up the rest with titanium plates and screws.
“I think they’ve done a fantastic job, I’m amazed I’ve got two eyes, but I do have slight double vision.”
Mr Rees has said he he hopes his ride will help raise thousands of pounds for the Maxillo-Facial department of Morriston hospital.
He has been training regularly in a gym, pool and on the road but he believes the true test of his fitness will come in the summer.
“I’m always confident… but ask me again on the 16th of August.”
“I’d love to return to the slopes but I don’t think my partner or parents would let me! I’d ski tomorrow if I could!”
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