Stoney Creek champion racer struggles to walk again

A video of Paul Plewa at Hamilton's Regional Rehabilitation Centre looks like a determined athlete in action.

He hobbles between parallel bars, jaw clenched in determination as he manages a few steps using a sturdy four-point cane. Next, he tries walking on his own. He manages a couple of steps before he falls toward the camera.

It's a far cry from three months ago, when the 17-year-old Stoney Creek resident was a champion motocross rider — in the top five in his division in North America.

All of that ended on March 18 when he broke his back during a practice session in upstate New York.

He uses a wheelchair now. Doctors say his chances of walking again are less than two per cent.

Plewa, a French immersion student at Cathedral High School, does not accept those odds.

"In my mind, (living in a wheelchair) is not a possibility," he said. "If there's a tiny window 100 kilometres away, I'll squeeze through it. If I have to spend every penny and every bit of energy, if my dad has to duct tape me to the bike, I will ride again."

Born to ride

Plewa began riding at age six when his father Andy, who raced in his native Poland, bought him a bike. The family joined the Steel City Riders, and it quickly became evident how gifted a rider the younger Plewa was.

Soon, he practiced three to five times a week. When he wasn't practicing or in school, he was at the gym or riding a unicycle around his neighbourhood to improve his strength and balance.

He travelled as far as Florida and Alabama for races. He maintained an A average in school by doing homework on his lap in the car and sending essays from roadside restaurants with wireless internet.

In February, Plewa reached the peak of his division when he qualified for the American Motocross Association National Arenacross Championships, one of the largest competitions in North America.

Sudden crash

In early March, he vacationed in Poland with his family. When he returned, he headed to Batavia to practice.

He edged around another rider on a rough patch and his bike pitched forward. He landed belly-down on the ground and his bike — 113 kilograms with about 80 km of momentum behind it — landed on his back.

Plewa's last memory was of hurtling forward "like I was on a rollercoaster." His next conscious moment came in the helicopter as he was airlifted to Buffalo, NY.

"I just wanted to sleep," he said. "And the paramedic kept telling me to stay awake."

In that brief, groggy moment on the helicopter, the damage was worse than he imagined. A vertebrae in his back had been smashed and reduced to powder. His brain was damaged in two places.

Fundraisers for the family

After surgery in Buffalo, he was transported to McMaster. Next, he went to Hamilton General, and then to the rehab centre, where he resides and does daily physiotherapy until he's released next week.

The family's insurance company has denied their claim three times, leaving them with more than $100,000 in medical costs.

When he's released, the family faces more challenges — renovations so Paul can get around their two-storey home. Possible ramps. Modified curbs. 

Some of Plewa's supporters have mobilized.

The Cathedral community has raised $2,500 so far, partially through T-shirt sales. The motocross community has also fundraised for him, selling shirts that read "Ride Again Plewa 771."

'Even now, we still believe'

Juliana Duarte, a student success teacher at Cathedral, said Plewa is well liked.

"Paul is so nice and polite and low key," she said. "You wouldn't know from talking to him that he's fifth in North America."

The family has put countless hours into helping Plewa follow his dreams, and "now that's kind of changed," dad Andy said.

"But even now, we still believe," he said. "You tell him there's a light and he goes for it."

Donations can be made through CIBC account #06182-010-8311498 or a PayPal account established for the family. Mail can be sent to Paul Plewa, Worsley RPO, P.O. Box 20515, Stoney Creek, L8G 0A4.

See below for a first-person view of Plewa racing last year.