Cyclists will this weekend raise vital money for a charity helping a Cross Roads horse rider recover from a serious brain injury.

Fiona Rook has spent the past 18 months battling back from a severe injury sustained in a riding accident last year.

Fiona, 40, who fell off her horse, is currently being cared for by the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust in Leeds.

Her brother, Simon Rook, and his friends, Victor Blackman and David Anderton, are taking on the charity trek to raise money for the trust.

They will be sponsored to ride 135 miles along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal towpath on Saturday.

The trio have cycled regularly together for the past three years, and have put in a lot of extra training for their towpath ride.

Simon, Victor and David hope to raise enough money to buy something to help the residents of Daniel Yorath House in Leeds – a neurobehavioural rehabilitation centre – where Fiona has been cared for in the past few months.

The facility focuses on helping people function more independently, and return to as many of their previous roles and activities as possible.

Fiona went to Daniel Yorath House after many months of treatment at Leeds General Infirmary followed by a specialist unit in Chapel Allerton.

Ruth Blackman, Victor’s wife and Fiona’s friend, said she expected to be able to return home within two months.

Ruth, from Haworth, added: “Fiona has been in hospital and rehabilitation ever since the accident, and she is making excellent progress.”

The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust was set up in 1992 and now provides care for more than 550 people across England.

They care for people who have suffered a head injury, including through a stroke or accident.

Psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists help patients lead as full a life as possible.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor the cycle ride should contact Victor or Ruth on 01535 643776.