Alex gets back in the saddle despite horror fall to complete charity fundraiser ride

Alex Mitchell was left battered and bruised but smiling through the pain after raising more than £11,000 for the Warrington Wolves Foundation.

The private client specialist at Warrington-based Watsons Solicitors got more than she bargained for during the cross-Pennine charity bike ride to Newcastle, titled Tour de Toon.

For a second successive year, Alex was part of the peloton that set out from the Halliwell Jones Stadium – home of the Warrington Wolves.

But her bid to complete the gruelling near 200-mile ride was quite literally thrown up in the air as a serious crash in the afternoon of the first day left her a virtual spectator.

Alex said: “There was a bit of an accident, which involved me flying off my bike going 30mph downhill somewhere near Harrogate and being knocked unconscious.

“So rather than continuing the ride, I spent seven hours in A&E getting seen to. I broke ribs and needed stitches, so it was a more eventful opening day than I’d banked on.”

After cheering the rest of her team on from the support vehicle on the Saturday, Alex was, remarkably, back in the saddle for Sunday’s 10-mile ride to St James’ Park, home of Newcastle United and host of rugby league’s Magic Weekend.

“I had a great time on the Sunday,” said Alex, who had to use her powers of persuasion to be allowed to complete the final stretch.

“I wanted to complete the ride on the Sunday, and I managed to after a rough Saturday. We then had some drinks and watched Warrington beat Castleford.”

Even after suffering a heavy fall, Alex would happily take part for a third successive year if the Tour de Toon returns in 2023.

“Aside from the fall I had a great time,” she added. “We used a slightly different route to last year and that kept things fresh with different stop-off points.

“We also smashed our target of £10,000 for a worthwhile cause, so, yes, I’d love to do it all over again next year.”

To make a donation, visit: https://warringtonwolvesfoundation.enthuse.com/pf/alex-mitchell-06cff

Watsons Solicitors, which has been established for more than 60 years, specialises in family law, employment law, wills and probate, and conveyancing.

The team of experienced solicitors each hold various accreditations and memberships of professional bodies relevant to their expertise, while the firm’s partners oversee all areas of work.