Fundraiser set up for Ballyclare mountaineer who was paralysed in skiing accident

A fundraising page has been set up in support of former Ballyclare High School pupil Dave Hollinger, a mountaineer, who was paralysed after a skiing accident last year.

Dave Hollinger fell in Aberdeenshire, suffering a brain stem stroke, leaving him trapped in his own body.

The father-of-two was working as a British Mountain Guide, when the accident occurred on March 11, 2018.

One year on and Dave, who is receiving specialist care in England, is able to move some limbs, and is standing with support. He still has facial paralysis and locked jaw and he is using his eyes to communicate.

His wife Hannah says any funding will strictly be used for equipment such as an off road wheelchair or for additional ongoing physio.

Read the full story and donate here

#inspiredbydave who writes:

2018 was not a good year for several reasons but, for me, the cruelest blow came in March when I suffered a brain stem stroke following a ski fall.

To say our world has been turned on its head would be a mild understatement. Whilst I’ve not lost any cognitive function my motor control was reduced to blinking.

I’m not going to dwell on the negatives, hardly the thing for the start of a new year, but while Hannah is keeping the show on the road in the most humbling way imaginable my role has been reduced to fighting for every bit of motor function I can get back.

It is a huge mountain to climb and I am still at the bottom but climbing mountains is what I do and with progress so far I am at least over the bergschrund.

I also know I have benefited from a huge amount of support from the start from friends near and far. I am truly grateful and my state of mind is better for it.

I have ‘typed’ this using a simple but slow eye tracking system. I can’t promise to produce much text (some of you will say that is a good thing!) but I will try and let you know how I am getting on. Wishing you all the best for the coming year.”