'Complete the Journey' appeal as Newman undergoes sur...

More details have emerged of the catastrophic road crash in America which nearly killed UK agents Sean Newman and James Golding as they tried to complete their charity bike ride.

Meanwhile, there are calls to the estate agency industry as a whole to back a ‘Complete the Journey’ appeal.

The aim, totally supported by EAT, is to unite the whole industry to raise the shortfall that the pair had set their hearts on giving to cancer charities.

“I talked to Sean when he was in intensive care,” said Jonathan Handford, managing director of Newmans estate agents. “He was less concerned about himself than being unable to raise the full £100,000.”

It appears that a lorry was about to overtake the pair at high speed on a dual carriageway, when another lorry also began overtaking. This forced the first lorry to swerve back into the inside lane where it went into the back of Newman, who was catapulted from his bike into Golding.

The crash has left Newman, 43, with a broken back, two broken legs and a shattered pelvis. Golding, 29, was initially thought to have sustained a broken leg and ribs, but has since been assessed as less seriously injured, although very badly bruised and shocked. He could be fit enough to fly back to the UK tomorrow for further treatment.

Newman, however, was undergoing corrective surgery yesterday on his pelvis. Neuro-surgeons are hoping to operate on his spine next week. His wife Caroline and their two young children, Summer and Tyler, immediately flew to the States on the news and remain at his bedside.

The accident has put on hold Newman’s plans which, ironically, were to move to America next month to launch the Fine & Country brand there.

Jonathan Handford, who handles the day-to-day running of Newmans, which has four branches plus four Fine & Country offices and two satellite operations in the Midlands, said: “It is very early days to be talking about Sean’s prognosis. The back operation will be a very delicate one. While everyone at Newmans is very upset and anxious, obviously we are also very hopeful.

“If anyone can get through this, it will be Sean. Both these guys are just incredible people – very strong and heroic.”

The pair had been planning to raise £100,000 for cancer charities on their 3,500-mile bike ride across America to mark Golding’s own recovery from a two-year battle with the disease. He was given the all-clear on July 23 last year, and the two had planned to cross the finishing line on that anniversary.

Now, Newmans staff are planning to do everything they can to make good the shortfall in the funds that Newman and Golding had pledged to raise. Anything that the wider industry can do will be hugely welcome and appreciated.

“They were about two-thirds of the way and had got to about £50,000,” said Handford. “Our aim is to raise the rest.”

He, and others including EAT, are hoping the wider property industry will unite behind the efforts. Already, Newmans is organising a raffle where the top prize is a week’s stay in Spain. We’ll let you know when the raffle launches, and meanwhile, if anyone would like to donate other worthwhile prizes, please contact Jonathan Handford by email. ( jonathan@newman.uk.com )

An online account has also been set up where you can simply donate money. If all of the 4,000 people who read the EAT story yesterday gave £10 each, we would almost be there. But anyway, please give what you can.

Click here to make a donation

EAT’s editor would also be very interested to hear from agents, whether individuals or firms, who would like to run their own fund-raisers to help Newman and Golding reach their target. We’d love to help you publicise any such events and of course it’s also possible that many of our readers are already committed to cancer charity events where they could specifically nominate Newman’s efforts as the recipient. Email rosalind.renshaw@estateagenttoday.co.uk

A sum of £50,000 is a lot for a smallish Midlands agency to achieve on its own, so let’s do everything we can to help. After all, the amount is a drop in the ocean compared with the hundreds of thousands of pounds that Newman himself has raised for various charities over the years – often uniting the industry as he did so.

The pictures show Newman this week in critical care. His family have given permission to use these.