A FORMER professional rally co-driver left paralysed after a cycling accident is aiming to raise £40,000 to combat his ‘daily struggle’.

Chris Wood fell off his bike a few days before Christmas two years ago, leaving him with little, or no, movement below his neck.

Now an appeal has been launched called Help Woody Live with Tetraplegia to buy Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) equipment to help him regain full arm movement. He also needs an electric wheel-chair, hoists and other items.

The father-of-four, who is orginally from Burnley, was an accomplished rally co-driver and had worked alongside Jimmy and Alister McRae, Martin Rowe, Jonny Milner and David Higgins over a 10-year career.

The 50-year-old retired from the sport in 2001, and is now looked after full-time by two carers at his home in Huddersfield. Chris was in hospital for 10 months and, after physical rehabilitation, regained some movement in his left arm, but not his hands, leaving him unable to touch or feel anything.

Through his friend Rob Sin-field, Chris is aiming to raise fun-ds to buy new equipment. So far the campaign has raised more than £16,000 and is being supp-orted by World Rally championship driver Kris Meeke, double British Touring Car Champion Jason Plato, and Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans Prodrive are offering three tours of their facility, where they make Aston Martin and Mini rally cars, with all proceeds going to Chris.

He said: “It’s a struggle every day for me and having new equipment would have a huge impact on me.”

Chris’ dad Mike, 80, a former rally co-driver, who lives in Sab- den, said: “He has his good days and his off days, but he has been doing much better recently.”

To donate to the fund visit: //www.gofundme.com/6lshhw