My last blog saw a necessary, and thankfully well-received,
rant about people’s attitude to one another on certain Social Media sites.
I
want to redress the balance a little in this next blog by choosing – without prompt
or promise of favours – three very different causes that are helping make a
difference to our world of motorcycling and motorcycle racing.
If you’re not one for charity, I urge you to read on. I am
not asking for donations, I am just trying to raise a little more awareness for 3
excellent individual causes – to donate or not to donate is purely personal
choice. Please, read on...
Last October saw a man with motorcycling in his blood, Steve
Keys, BBC TV show Red Dwarf’s very own ‘Cat’
keen biker Danny-John Jules and the BBC’s MotoGP presenter and shameless
Huddersfield Town fan Matt Roberts set off from the Ace Cafe in North London on
a trip to the Valencia GP, known as Viva! Valencia.
Nothing untoward about that you might say, however Steve and
Danny were riding bright pink Yamaha R1’s – with matching leathers and helmets
- and Matt was riding the specially prepared
one-off Yamaha R1 that Jorge Lorenzo rode around the Isle of Man TT course in
June 2010, all in the name of charity. The aim of the trip was to raise
awareness and funds for Riders For Health – motorcycle racing’s own charity
that provides health care workers in Africa with uninterrupted access to
reliable transport. The ride was needless to say a great success.
Steve and Danny have set up their own company Motoventures to organise rides and promote biking to a
wider audience whilst raising money for charity. This year, as well as Viva!
Valencia 2012, thetwo boys are embarking on a very different challenge...
In September one lucky person will
join Motoventures on Challenge 125 - an epic trip across Europe to the San
Marino MotoGP...on a 125cc motorcycle...with only £125 to fund the trip. The best
part is they want to take one member of public with them! All the details of
how to be in with a chance of being a part of this incredible ride can be found
here http://www.motoventures.co.uk/c125.php
but if you have a bike licence already then don’t bother – only non-riders need
apply!
The ride is borne out of support for the
motorcycle industry funded campaign to introduce more people to the joys and
cost-saving of motocycles and scooters, you can learn more about it here . If you haven’t
a licence yet but fancy riding then get involved, Challenge 125 will take care
of everything!
This summer Stuart Gunn is going to attempt the Solo Land Speed
Record, there’s a small amount of bravery required to do it but when you
consider that Stuart is paralysed and blind it makes you sit up and take notice a
little more...
In 2002 Stuart was involved in an accident in Edinburgh when
a van pulled across his path. His words make for incredible reading... ‘I flipped over
the bike and twisted in mid-air. The base of my back hit where the windscreen
and roof joined; my head and shoulders went through the sunroof and my legs
went through the windscreen, literally snapping me in half...backwards’
The accident saw Stuart break his back in three places, a few ribs
and his shoulder.
Within 18 months his incredible determination saw him back on
his feet unaided and despite doctors saying he would never walk again was back riding within two and a half years.
In a cruel turn of fate once more, Stuart took a tumble at
home, banging his head on a table in the process. The fall pinched a nerve in his back that sadly proved inoperable and left him paralysed in his right leg. The bang to the head also left Stuart with a
neurological condition that induced fits. One fit in particular in the Autumn of 2007 lasted for an
hour and left him paralysed completely down his right side. Whilst in
hospital recovering from this latest set-back Stuart had yet another fit, a
massive two hour ordeal that sadly took his sight leaving him 100% blind.
I think the speed record is an incredible thing to attempt in Stuart’s
situation, a fantastic amount of bravery and mental focus is required, far beyond what
he uses just to negotiate everyday life.
Also, it’s not just about breaking the world
record, incidentally set in 2003 by ex-soldier Billy Baxter at 164mph, it’s about selflessly helping
others in the process. The Joey Dunlop Foundation, RNIB, DiabetesUK (Scotland)
and Riders For Health will all benefit from Stuart’s efforts.
Good luck Stuart!
The CJR Fund is a charity
I’ve supported since its inception some six years ago. I was present at Cadwell
Park in August 2005 when Chris Jones was seriously injured in a start-line
crash as the lights went green in the British 125cc Championship race. After being
airlifted to hospital, Chris sadly succumbed to his injuries the following day.
He was 14 years of age.
For those of you unaware of the background to the fund you can read more about the talent Chris possessed and
Eugene Laverty’s tribute here
There is no doubt that the British Superbike riders and
support class riders are better protected and cared for than at any time prior
to the Funds launch. The fund has provided soft barrier protection around the
tracks, they have provided an X-Ray machine which has proven it’s worth many
times over – not only in locating fractures for immediate treatment, saving a
rider a trip to a hospital that may be miles from home then allowing them to
get to their own hospital in some form of comfort, but also, and just as important
for a rider, discounting potential fractures too which saves the possibility of
losing track time by having to visit the local A&E - only to be told its
just heavy bruising!
The CJR Fund rider assistance doesn’t just stop at the
track, the after –care for injured riders is just as important to them as the
immediate post-crash treatment. The Fund provides physiotherapy support and
advice to healing riders and is constantly supporting research in to conditions
affecting bike riders and racers. I’m sure you agree, it’s a fantastic
all-round rider safety organisation.
When you see the guys and girls at the BSB meetings with
their buckets, wristbands and merchandise plus the annual raffle to win a brand
new Honda CBR1000RR make sure you give generously – it’s there to protect our
riders and ultimately our sport. Alternatively you can donate here http://www.cjnine.com/donate/
Thanks for reading.
Nice one Dave...
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