A FATHER-of-four forced to withdraw from Prospect’s upcoming dance challenge following a head-on collision which nearly cost him his life is urging kind volunteers to take his place.

On Wednesday, September 10, Kevin Macdivitt, of Wroughton, was cycling to Royal Wootton Bassett with his wife Caroline to deliver funds raised in aid of the charity when they were hit by a van and knocked off their bikes.

He was airlifted to Southmead Hospital near Bristol while Caroline was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Kevin broke his back, collarbone, a bone in his neck and twisted his ankle.

He was also diagnosed with blood on the brain and suffered a cut to his head so deep it sliced his scalp down to the skull. Caroline suffered a broken back, eye socket and cheekbone.

Now Kevin, whowas due to begin rehearsals on Wednesday for Prospect Hospice’s Strictly-style Let’s Dance challenge, is hoping his misfortune will inspire fundraisers to take his and his partner’s spot and collect vital funds for the charity.

“I’m definitely going to do it next year, 100 per cent, God willing,” said the 57-year-old. “I was really looking forward to it. I asked a friend and we had already started learning a few steps. We were looking forward to our first lesson.

“I can’t do it because of the accident. But I’ve been very fortunate to survive it.

“I’m still in pain and I’ve got to sit down after ten minutes of walking.

“I asked Caroline to do Let’s Dance with me but she said she would rather jump out of a plane; so she did a skydive and raised over £1,000 for Prospect. This was what I was going to do for Prospect.”

The manager of the Carter’s Rest pub in Wroughton had chosen to take on the challenge in memory of his late daughter-in-law Natasha, who died of cervical cancer at the age of 27 at Prospect Hospice.

Through her illness and following her passing, the bereavement team supported the family, particularly Kevin’s son Dan, who overnight not only lost the love of his life but found himself raising his three children alone.

“When I see my son now compared to what he was like after she died, I see what a great job they’ve done with him,” added Kevin. “He is coping as well as he can and the kids are doing good.

“They always made us feel welcome when they were looking after Tash. They supported the family and that’s why I want to support them.”

Having survived eye melanoma, Kevin is keenly aware that, had things been different, he may have required hands-on care from the hospice.

“I didn’t use Prospect,” he said. “They got it very early. If they hadn’t caught it it could have spread and I might have had to use it. It’s our local hospice. You never know when you are going to need it.”

To register visit www.prospect-hospice.net/ fundraising-events/lets-dance