One in a thousand...for one in a million

Last Sunday my friend Sean Newman was hit by a truck at 70mph as he cycled across America raising money for cancer charities. The pictures tell the story better than any words I can muster - Sean's bike in bits with the missing pieces seeming to appear in his reconstructed pelvis (they are cables and pins). He suffered a fractured orbital eye socket , shattered pelvis, broken femur right leg, fractured lower spine, broken tibia and ankle left leg, bruised spleen, a closed head injury resulting in a subdural haemotoma (thankfully a bleed that will absorb and does not require surgery). But his biggest issue is his frustration, indeed despair, that his ride was incomplete and his desperate wish that the funds he has pledged to raise will be achieved.

Sean is a one in a million - he's raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities having cycled the length and breadth of the UK twice, raced across the Sahara desert - completing 7 marathons on foot, numerous marathons around the world and building a total of 7 schools in third world countries. His wife Caroline said the other day "we have always worked on the basis 'you never give to receive' but I think now would be a nice time for a little to come back Sean's way" - not that she's asking for anything for Sean personally - no her request is that people will find it in them to make a donation to make sure Sean's goals are achieved.

I'm asking you to be one in a thousand and to make a donation of just £100 - it's a small thing to ask for one in a million I feel - but any amount will be gratefully received.

Sean is a director of the Estate Agency Foundation - a charity encouraging estate agents to raise funds for good causes - you can make a donation for Sean's charities (Macmillan Cancer, Copafeel and Live Strong) at www.estateagencyfoundation.org/sean

Thank you in anticipation of your support.