High-performance motorcycle road trip for spinal research
Dan and Gary Makey are going to be part of a very special road trip this month. The trip, called "Conquering Freedom", is designed to publicise a revolutionary new motorcycle and help raise funds for research into a cure for spinal cord injuries.
Dan is a former Golden Bay resident now based in Brightwater and he will be riding a British-built motorcycle called "The Conquest 1200" from Picton to Rangiora on November 6 and 7. His father Gary (or Bear as he is more commonly known) will be taking some of his biker mates to accompany Dan.
Bear said that he was pleased to be supporting Dan on the trip.
"The CatWalk Trust is a really good cause," he said. "They're funding important work and I hope the tour raises plenty of money. Anyone wanting to support Dan's part of the trip should contact the trust's website or get in touch with me."
The Conquest is the world's first high-performance motorcycle designed for wheelchair users. Its manufacturers say that it gives its riders a level of performance and independence previously unattainable.
Dan, who is a wheelchair user as a result of a logging accident 12 years ago, is excited about the trip.
"I've owned motorbikes before. I had a water-cooled Yamaha 125 that was my favourite but I never thought I'd get the chance to ride again, so this is an awesome opportunity," he said. "I've heard that there are quite a few people interested in riding along with us so it could be quite a big crew. I hope that the amount of attention we attract will help with the fundraising side of things."
The Conquering Freedom tour is raising funds for the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust, which funds research into a possible cure for such injuries. By the end of this year CatWalk expects to have supplied close to $200,000 towards this research.
Dan was selected to ride in the tour after he applied and wrote am explanation of how he came to be in a wheelchair and what he had accomplished since.
The CatWalk Trust aims to assist wheelchair users out of their chairs and on to their feet. A spokesperson mentioned "a recent really exciting research debrief in the search for a cure to spinal cord injuries. "It's not a matter of if, but when," she said.
The nationwide tour began in Auckland on October 26 and it will make it all the way to Invercargill before returning to Christchurch on November 13. At the conclusion of the tour, the motorcycle will be auctioned at a gala charity event at Wigram's Air Force Museum.
Neil Wilson
People wanting to contribute to the fund can contact Bear at Takaka ITM or Dan's mother Janie at Golden Bay Dental Centre.
