TEENAGE charity champ Michelle Lewis had a lucky escape when she was in collision with a pair of cyclists while taking part in a wheelchair race in Liverpool.

Michelle (18) from St James' Road, Rainhill, was competing in the 15km Road Race on Wheels event in Sefton Park when the cyclists unexpectedly crossed her path, throwing her out of the chair.

Her grandmother, Sylvia Lewis told the Star: "The race was cordoned off but someone moved the barrier for whatever reason and the cyclists obviously didn't realise they were going through it. Michelle grazed her arm and face but fortunately, her helmet protected her against a more serious injury and she is much better now. The helmet was wrecked as a result though.

"Sadly, her specially-adapted sports wheelchair is a complete write-off which is a disaster for us because she was planning to use it for a half-marathon in aid of the Merseyside Accommodation Project (MAP) for the homeless, at Sefton Park again this weekend. She has sponsorship lined up from Manweb for it and without the chair, she wouldn't have been able to compete." However, help was swiftly at hand following an urgent appeal for a new chair and Sylvia was contacted by a Liverpool man willing to donate one formerly used by his son.

Sylvia added: "We are now trying to adapt it for Michelle to use this weekend. Obviously, it won't be perfect as these chairs usually take about eight weeks to make, but at least she can enter the race now and help MAP and we are very grateful to the donor. We have also been inundated with offers to pay the £2,000 needed for a new chair. The Liverpool hairdresser, Herbert has offered to pay for the chair, the Mirror newspaper said they would help and even Carole Vorderman, whom Michelle met when she won a Pride of Britain award, has offered to pay."

IF you would like to make a donation to Michelle's race this weekend in aid of MAP, you can contact Sylvia on 0151 426 1065.