Men at HMP Cardiff have raised money to buy a spin bike for patients recovering from brain injuries. They acted after learning why one of the prison’s PE staff was training for a charity challenge.
Paul Wales, a Physical Education Instructor (PEI) at the jail, had learned that a close friend was in a serious accident. The friend fell three storeys while working on his house. He suffered a fractured skull, a bleed on the brain and many broken bones.
Southmead Hospital in Bristol treated him in intensive care, where he lay in a coma for two weeks. He then moved to the Frenchay Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre. He now lives there full time, relearning how to walk and talk, along with many other everyday skills.
The friend has a wife and two children. His absence from the family home has been very hard for his wife. Because he was self-employed, Mr Wales and a group of friends set out to raise money for the family. They took part in a 24-hour row at Old Reds rugby club and raised more than £30,000.
Men using the prison gym saw Mr Wales training for the row. Once they heard about the accident and the care his friend was receiving, they wanted to hold their own event for the Frenchay centre.
They came up with a virtual cycle ride. Thirteen prisoners and the PE staff would ride the distance between 16 prisons in Wales and south-west England, a total of around 1,226km.
Prisoners on every wing chipped in, donating £560 between them. The money paid for a new spin bike at the Frenchay centre, which will help current and future patients with their rehabilitation.
Mr Wales described the result as a fantastic achievement by everyone who took part. He also praised every prisoner who had put their hand in their pocket. He said he wanted the men to receive recognition for an event that helps others in the community.
HMP Cardiff is a category B reception prison for men in Wales. At its last full inspection, in May 2024, inspectors rated it reasonably good on safety, respect, purposeful activity and preparation for release.
