Malcolm Appleton injured during GMSR

Category: Letters

Created on Thursday, 06 September 2007 11:42

Last Updated on Thursday, 06 September 2007 11:42

Published Date

09/06/2007

To The Editor:

My husband, Malcolm Appleton, a senior Olympian bicycle rider (who podiumed three times at the national senior games in KY last June) was in an accident Sunday as he was about to ride down to the start line during the Green Mountain Stage Race.

Another cyclist hit his rear wheel and Malcolm went down. He is presently at CVMC where he underwent surgery for a broken hip. He's doing well but we both lament the fact that he will miss all the races he's been entered in in Arizona and Utah. We don't know, at this point, whether or not he'll be able to come home after he's discharged or if he'll have to go to a rehab facility for a few weeks.

Since he's been training so hard, he's in excellent shape so his recovery may be accelerated. He has not had a hip replacement but is, rather, pinned and this type of procedure takes longer to heal. (I should know!)

We don't know who hit him but the rider didn't stop to say anything although he probably didn't know how badly Malcolm was injured. If he's a local and sees this letter, it would be nice for him to give Malcolm a call.

Many thanks to Diane and Mike Eramo who picked me up and took me up to Sugarbush North to get my car and to try and find Malcolm's bicycle.

Thanks to Heidi and her church for all the prayers.

Thanks to Mike Ware for going up to the top of the Ap Gap to pick up some things Malcolm had left there. Thanks to son Bill, who came down and mowed the lawn, and to Kris Williams, who wants to come up to Granville and finish up the winterizing of our house (which Malcolm was in the process of doing) at no charge.

Thank you to all the friends who have called and offered help and support, including David and Arlene for bringing homemade cookies to the hospital.

And not to be forgotten...the ambulance service and the EMTs who took such good care of Malcolm during the trip to the hospital.

I have had phone calls and emails and prayers from all over the country. Isn't it strange that you never know how many friends you have until something like this happens? Malcolm is a wonderful person, husband and friend.

Barbara Stratton-Appleton
Granville

P.S. One of the moose signs is back...dunno if it's a new one or one of the ones that was taken...in either event, thank you, good person, for the sign. B.S-A.