AFTER a number of setbacks paraplegic pilot Dave Sykes’s round-the-world journey has got back under way.

Dave, who is a member of York Flying Club, hopes to be the first paraplegic person to complete a microlight journey from York to Sydney, Australia, and has undertaken the task to raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

After he landed in Burma on Wednesday, June 8, massive rainstorms and winds rocked the region, causing Dave to abort a number of attempts to fly to Rangoon and continue his trip.

However, this week the weather finally improved enough for Dave to complete the next leg of his journey, and land in Rangoon on Tuesday.

Now, a fellow member of the flying club has nominated Dave as Charity Fundraiser Of The Year for his commitment to the trip.

Richard Smith said: “Here’s a guy who, when a car ran into him on a motorcycle and left him with only his upper body working, didn’t complain about it, he just got on with it and took hold of life with both hands.

“To do what he’s doing after what he’s been through, it’s just amazing.”

Richard, who is a committee member of the York Flying Club, said Dave’s determination and dedication to fundraising was worthy of recognition: “The first thing he did was take part in a skydive, then he trained himself to fly with a converted microlight, and has flown around the Alps, Italy and Europe and just makes friends everywhere he goes.

“He’s been through some horrendous conditions on his journey, and has the bottle to carry on.

“He’s one hell of a character and has a lust for life that’s just remarkable.”

Nominations are still open for this year’s Community Pride Awards, which are run in partnership with City of York Council and a number of local businesses to celebrate unsung heroes and inspirational people based within the City of York council tax area.

Nominations can be submitted online at thepress.co.uk/news/communitypride before Friday, July 22.