“May you always have love to share,
health to spare,
and friends that care.”
Our Charities
OUR CHOSEN CHARITIES ALWAYS IN NEED OF HELP ... worthy causes working 24/7 to keep you biking .......... please give whatever you can to help them help you. Thank you.
Dick Turpin’s Disciples Mcc hospital run 2009
Wheelie Great!
The weather played havoc with this year’s hospital run and as we can only have 10 members in the ward at any one time it was natural selection really - so that out of the 15 promised only the 7 that lived the nearest made it onto the ward. The snow and ice made travelling too dangerous for those coming from Hyde and those living farther afield.
It mattered not to the children ---- who were unfortunate enough to be hospital for xmas to see a bunch of bikers bringing them gifts, all the kids wanted were the gifts!!!
The youngest lad there was Alfie at 11 months and the oldest of our members was John Hobson at 79 years, who couldn’t resist playing on the kids’ musical instruments – still a child at heart!!!
We brought some smiles to their little faces and their mums and dads seemed bemused to see us but once the presents came out it was all ok. They were all either too excited or too tired to say much but the looks on their faces made it all worthwhile. The staff were much appreciative for the gifts too as they say it all helps to make the medicine go down that little bit better – and easier...... well it’s a fair exchange a small jab for a big selection box wouldn’t you say!!!
Until next xmas when we will be back doing it all over again.
Pendleside Hospice -- Christmas 2009
Our most senior member Mr John Hobson did the honours and took the Club donation of £150 down to the hospice with his son, Nick. This charity is dear to our hearts having been of support and assistance to some of our members’ families during the later stages of their terminal illness.
The donation was made possible with proceeds from the Club rock nite and is one of three charities Dick Turpin’s Disciples Mcc supports, each is donated to in rotation and we give as much as we can to support this worthy cause.
Many thanks to John and Nick for their time taken to deliver the money and take the photos.
One story with a happy ending --- back on the road again
Nowadays we can’t seem to go anywhere without being pounced on and asked to give/donate money to one charity or another, some charities will be closer to our hearts than others, most of us older ones will have known someone who has suffered from cancer, some may have been lucky and survived it, but a lot don’t, to those charities we don’t mind parting with our cash. It’s a sad fact of life that in Briton today people have to run marathons dressed like a fooking oven ready turkey or stand on street corners like some long lost prossie just to raise cash to keep these charities going, but because of the nature of some of these charities they do get a lot of support off the general public, which means a fair bit of cash can be raised, but what about us bikers, what happens if we get knocked off our bikes by some twat of a driver who couldn’t be bothered to check the road was clear only to pull out on us, what then?
Most of us have probably given money to the air ambulance and rightly so, it’s another sad fact that these fantastic people and their flying machines only fly in the 1st place due to Joe public digging deep and giving them some coin, but again they are fairly well supported because it’s not just bikers who get to fly in those big yellow choppers when injured, but again what about us bikers, what happens to us once the dust has settled, once the choppers have fucked off and the doctors and nurses have done their stuff, what happens to the biker who has no left leg, no right leg, what about the biker who has been paralyzed, have you ever taken the time to think about these people?
Only a biker will know the shitty feeling of not being able to ride his/her bike due to a flat battery, or a flat tyre, some of you will know what it’s like not to be able to ride your bike because your leg is in pot for a few weeks, well if you know that feeling then try and imagine what it’s like for someone who has suffered terrible injuries that will affect them for the rest of their lives, try and imagine what it’s like to think you may never ride a motorbike again.
I’ll tell you what its like, it’s fucking soul destroying, that’s what it is, when you suffer terrible injuries you have to battle to get over them, to try and get back to some sort of normal, in some cases the person may have lost a job, so that knocks you down even more, there’s an whole book full of things that can affect the way an injured rider feels/thinks. If a rider has lost a limb it takes time to adjust to that, if a rider is paralysed then very soon that person could feel like they are on the outside of the group looking in, they are treated different by ignorant stupid people that should know better, but how do you think that person would feel like if they were told they could ride a bike/trike again, how do you think they would feel to be able to get on a bike or trike whenever they felt like it and go and ride out with their mates, to go to bike meets or best of all to go to a fucking good rally and get shitfaced while watching some good bands with like minded people, people who don’t see the disability, people who see just another biker who happens to be in a wheelchair or has a carbon fibre leg.
Why Support the N.A.B.D.?
Well that is why we should support the NABD, National Association for Bikers with a Disability, these guys and dolls quite literally make dreams come true, and that is not an exaggeration, these people at NABD under the command of Mr Ric Hulse work tirelessly for NO wage I might add to help people like me to ride again. I lost a leg and suffered severe crush injuries to my remaining leg, I never thought I would ride a bike again, but that was until I heard about NABD, these people will supply you with all the relevant details as to how you go about receiving a grant for an adaption to your bike or trike.
To qualify for an adaption all you need to do is join NABD for a very small sum of money, you don’t even have to be disabled to support NABD, you can be able bodied and still pay a yearly subscription of which all the money goes back into promoting NABD, paying for adaptions or keeping the small fleet of learner bikes on the road. These bikes have been adapted for various disabilities from upper arm problems to lower limb amputees, these bikes can be borrowed from these people free of charge so that you can take and pass your bike test, how good is that, this is why we must support NABD, don’t get into thinking it’ll never happen to me, because it COULD, you never know where that slick of diesel is going to be, you never know if that half wit in the car is going to pull out on you, as bikers we all know that a good ride out can turn bad very quickly, I hope that all of you reading this continue to ride accident free for the rest of your biking days, but the laws of averages says that someone reading this will be involved in some sort of accident in the future, and a small percentage of you will unfortunately suffer severe and life changing injuries. So that is why as bikers you should support NABD, if you ever see someone shaking the NABD collection box in yer face then don’t be shy with your cash, please give generously, you never know when you might need their help.
Andy (the Inuit) Fuller just after his failed attempt to get home.
For further information on NABD just Google them, if you need their help then don’t be shy, give them a ring or drop them an email, they will always get back to you and will offer you valid information to help get you back on the road. Before I forget I want to remind you that NABD have two rallies a year, these are always great fun, they cater for all the family, they have a fantastic number of top bands playing and of course there is Ric’s famous comedy store, every penny raised at these rallies goes back into NABD, so come on guys, show them your support, this is a charity for bikers, run by bikers, it doesn’t get any better then that. Keep the faith and ride safe
— Andy ’sarge’
Footnote from the Chair
Andy Fuller has more courage than most and his will to ride his bike again has brought him through some very tough times. He freely admits that if not for the club and his bike and fantastic family, things may have been different. This is the one reason everyone should find a few coppers for the NABD tin. They make dreams come true.
This year’s gift run to the Burnley General children’s ward was on the 15th December 2008.
2007 HOSPITAL VISIT ARRANGED BY KEITH GARSTANG
This was very well received by the staff at Burnley hospital and the playgroup co-ordinator said that the children would be very pleased to see us, or not as the case maybe ----aahh problem ! -----or was it ? no ---not really but just our luck there were NO children in the ward over xmas. Selection boxess and board games were left for the nurses to give out.
This was good news as nobody likes being in hospital at any time let alone xmas, however the staff posed for pictures and the club were made welcome.
We met up at the Thatch n Thistle beforehand for a picture that was front page news on the Pendle Express and also in the Nelson Leader, all good publicity for the club, there will be a piece in 100% biker magazine issue 101 and hopefully Back Street Heroes.
The toys that had been donated were second-hand and therefore not acceptable to the ward as they could carry infection to the children. They did not go to waste however as Keith came up with the Women’s Refuge in Burnley and they went to the women and children there.
It is our intention to make this an annual event so next year leave space in your diaries to come with us.
Thanks go to the 10 members of the club who made it in the cold and wet, this will we hope become an annual event for the club so next year make sure your diaries are free and we can make an even bigger effort.
DICK TURPIN’S DISCIPLES MCC IS A NABD AFFILIATED CLUB
THANK YOU TO WARBURTONS BAKERY
THANK YOU TO HOLLANDS PIES
THANK YOU TO LOWERHOUSE CRICKET CLUB
Taken from the NABD website, written by a disabled biker -----very fitting and very true --search your soul when you read it and make sure you don’t have any preconceptions when you look at bikers.
Stuff Like That!
Bikers, Bikers, they’re all the bloody same,
Look at those disabled guys though, what a bloody shame!
Poor guys, hobblin’ about on sticks or, stuck in a chair,
Don’t they look a bloody state though, earrings, tattoos and long hair,
Who do they think they are, turnin’ up here lookin’ like that,
Bent and buggered most of ’em, got bits missin’ and stuff like that,
Look funny, talk funny, walk funny, you know, stuff like that,
Must cut down on leather though, with only one leg and stuff like that,
Don’t want them on our rally though, puts people off and stuff like that,
I bet they all dribble, need someone to wipe their arses and stuff like that,
What can you do with them ? They’ll get in the way and stuff like that,
Expect you have to feed them too, and hold their pint while they drink,
We don’t want them on our rally mate ... that’s what I think.
What do you mean they’re bikers just like us, bikers with grit,
That one aint got a leg to lift over his saddle, so don’t give me that shit!
Oh, rides a trike does he, still gets around does he, oh yeah sure!
His trike was adapted by the N.A.B.D. was it, OK, tell me some more
Special controls and seating adapted to suit the riders own needs,
Yeah, but I’ll bet it’s real slow, he can’t do real road speeds,
He does what with it, takes it down the drag strip? Must be bloody mad!
I suppose he’s a bit mental is he, land on his head did he ... how sad,
I suppose he’s ’handicapped’ now is he, uses the orange badge thing,
Jumps all the queues now I suppose, even gets special parking,
What do you mean he doesn’t want my pity, I’m only trying to assist,
You’re really confusing me mate ... sod it I’m off to get pissed!
OK, I’ve had a couple of beers now mate, so let’s get it straight,
Disabled guys frighten me, don’t know what to say when I meet ’em mate,
Don’t do anything different, just accept them as being a biker eh?
I suppose you’re right mate ... like that guy’s a ’triker’ eh?
Like it’s a cultural thing, we look after our own, and stuff like that,
Bikers are bikers, don’t matter what you ride, and stuff like that,
Tell everyone disabled bikers are welcome, and stuff like that,
There’s nothin’ to be afraid of, we’re all bikers, and stuff like that,
Make a little effort and talk to disabled bikers, and stuff like that,
And the N.A.B.D. do bloody good rallies themselves, maybe I’ll support them,
Your messages are getting through mate, I’ll see my mates and report them,
Sorry if I seemed a bit ignorant, was a bit rude and maybe a little off-hand,
But you see I’m deaf mate ... and I didn’t think you’d understand!
Pendleside Hospice
National Association Bikers with Disabilities
Yorkshire Air Ambulance
North West Air Ambulance
Since the Club began it has supported these three worthy charities, we aim to help out where we can and give as generously as we can.
All do an exceptional job in their own field and each one was chosen for the special reason of personal involvement, Pendleside for example helped my husband when the time came.
They are the experts in helping people to pass away in relative comfort and with dignity, the nurses there are worth their weight in gold and need as much help as they can get to do their job with unselfish and unswerving dedication.
All of them are stars, and when it is the middle of the night and you need someone they are there for you, they hold your hand and wipe away your tears give you strength to carry on and make you see you are not alone at the end. These nurses and the staff are real treasures and most of us don’t really appreciate them as we should, they make death a less painful journey.
The Air Ambulance goes to the rescue of walkers hikers horse riders and many more outdoor emergencies besides bikers, but the general public do not fully grasp just how much money bikers raise for this charity, one National bike club raised over £40,000 alone. It is a sad fact that most see bikers as a menace or just plain scary when on the roads, what is also a fact is that bikers are probably the highest contributing body to the NW ambulance.
When the time comes and you are in need just think on it is the never ending generosity of the motorcycle world that helps to keep the helicopters in the air day in day out, flying injured people to the nearest hospital.
NABD
This organisation has put disabled bikers back on the road and into the land of the living again, to be disabled is bad enough but if you have been a biker and then become disabled through injury, the one thing that motivates you to function normally again is the ever pervading thought of getting back on a bike.
NABD do this for many -- they modify and adapt motorcycles and trikes to be used by disabled bikers, they do this 24/7 and need help to keep things moving along. The NABD rallies are among the best in the country and many celebrities support this charity.
Never forget there but for the grace of god go I and next time you see the blue and yellow box going round please give as much as you can.
The average price of conversion varies a lot but can be as little as £100 to £4000 and it brings a lump to the throat of many when you go to the rallies and see people with limbs missing putting up tents on their own -- it really puts things into perspective I can tell you, makes you feel you are very lucky indeed.
Anyone can be a NABD member and it is £20 for the year the magazine Open House is well worth reading to bring you up to speed on what is new and it opens your eyes to the world of the disabled biker.
Which ever charity you choose to support give as much as you can one day it might be you that needs them.
This bike has been converted to a Klicktronic gear change
NABD can work wonders for disabled bikers
See also our Mad Mopeds Charity page!