Scrapheap mementos

A commemorative Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2012 T shirt, signed by every rider,  will be hung in the Down Syndrome NSW office as a reminder of all the amazing Scrappers who contributed to the event and to the organisation.

See the 2012 video here.

Anyone ready for Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2013?

Even when it's done and and the Scrappers are home, news of the Scrapheap Adventure Ride continues  to spread.

Darryn Snyder, in the Mudgee Guardian today, highlights a local connection, in preparation for the 2013 ride!

Wordless Wednesday: Grace

Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2012 in pictures

Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2012, the third outing, was a great success this Easter weekend.  Here is the message from the team, as they are arriving home from Mt Kosciuszko:

What an amazing experience it was this year! 

The Scrapheap family came together again for an amazing cause!

More than 200 photos are in this album already ... they tell the Scrapheap story very well - do check them out (just click on the link - you don't need to have a Facebook account to see them).  Here are just a few - you'll want to see them all!

Congratulations on a great adventure - and thank you for your continued support of people with Down syndrome and their families across NSW!

Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2012 ... starts today!

The 2012 Scrappers are setting out today, heading out to reach McPhersons Plain by Saturday (7th April).

Have a great ride, and fun along the way and stay safe.  

Thanks to the families and support teams who are backing them up, and the people who will greet and support them along the way.

Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2012 on Facebook - follow along.

Sponsorship opportunities are open here.

Scrapheap Adventure Ride: for Aaron, and for Damien

Peter Baxter and Rod Hemmings, The Tamworth Bitzas, are riding in the Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2012 because they love bikes, to raise funds for Down Syndrome NSW, and for Rod's son, Aaron.  Last year, Rod won the event.

This year, The Northern Daily Leader reports, that they are also riding to honour Damien Wetherall, who died recently, aged 38. Damien and his family were long standing members of Down Syndrome NSW, well known in the district where Jill and Rob often supported young families with children with Down syndrome, right throughout Damien's life.

Click here for a clipping of the full report from the Leader.

To sponsor The Tamworth Bitzas, click here.

Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2012 - are we there yet?

Honestly, we don't really know what a lot of the lyrical waxing about bikes means over at Scrapheap Adventure Ride headquarters ... but we do know about dedication, support and the spirit of adventure, so it looks good!

Mick Debreceny's NX

Here a just a few highlights of the preparations ....some riders have been for a 'practice' - just down to Tumbarumba and back, by 4WD to check the route!  This third ride will be some adventure next weekend - arrival day at Mt Kosciuszko is Easter Saturday, 7th April 2012.

Andrew Meddings has made room for his wheelchair on the back of his bike

Mick's daughter had her own homemade rocky road stall at a local Farmers' Market to support her Dad's adventure!

Grant Knowles and the kids at Kanahooka High have featured in the local press, reaching out into their community.

This third time entry (100% participation) is known as the Scare Chair!

... and this is the Side Car Scrapper, that apparently needed some 'fettling' ...

Major supporters, Pilot Air, showcased Perry's bike at their stand at the Buson Auto Parts Trade Show and collected some more donations.

Our heartfelt thanks to each and every rider, sponsor, donor, support team member  - all who have joined in this wonderful Adventure for 2012.

Check in to the Scrapheap Adventure Ride here for more photos (especially of the bikes), and to follow the ride.  To sponsor a team or rider, or to donate, click here.

Generous Scrapheap donation - thank you Pilot Air!

We've just learned that Martin Wyllie and Pilot Air have generously continued their support of the Scrapheap Adventure Ride by donating $5,000 toward this year’s event.

If you are in need of a new air compressor please contact these guys! Thank you, Martin!

Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2012: good on you Kanahooka High School

Kanahooka is  suburb south of Wollongong.  Perry posted on the Scrapheap Facebook page about their fantastic effort for Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2012 ... what a wonderful initiative from the school, and a great experience for the students:

The Kanahooka High School scrapper project is underway!

It was a bit of a logistics nightmare getting everything organised but we are up and running. The bike arrived at school today (29th February) and the students will begin working on it tomorrow. We have a countdown going as you can see from the photo.

There is a lot of excitement around the school and many faculties and subjects are assisting through kindly donating their time, expertise and money to the cause. Students in our Small Motor Maintenance Group are preparing the motorcycle. Industrial Arts are providing technical assistance. Geography students are planning the route and the Art Department are painting the motorcycle.


Good luck on the ride, Kanahooka High!


Go the Scrapheap Facebook page to see the other, sometimes weird and wonderful scrappers getting ready for the April 6th event, or here to register your bike or to sponsor a team.

Scrapheap Adventure 2012: April, Kosciuszko

SYDNEY DAD UPS THE STAKES FOR HIS DAUGHTER THIS EASTER

He may have no legs, but that won’t stop Perry Gilsenan from riding cross country for Down syndrome this Easter

He's a man who's had a tougher ride than most. But to watch Perry Gilsenan tear along the Newell Highway on his old BMW motorcycle, no one would everguess he was missing what most of us take for granted: legs. At age of 12, the Baulkham Hills father (pictured above) lost both legs in a horrific train accident. Several years later, disaster struck once more when Perrywas involved in a car crash, with injuries (including five fractured vertebrae and fourteen broken ribs) nearly claiming his life.

But despite these early misfortunes, this big-hearted fellow has always been one to count lifeʼs blessings rather than toils. For Perry, the word "disabled" has never even entered his vocabulary. 

"I hate the word 'disabled'," he says."Any word that has "dis" or "in" in front of it, I feel, does a disservice to people and their worth and how they can live their life. It implies that people are not "able" when they are. It's not your identity; it's something that has happened to you. You have to rise above that. I feel I'm capable of anything I set my mind to. The only thing that limits me is my heart, my mind and imagination."

It was this passion and zest for life that led Perry, a motorcycle lover from way back, to create the Scrapheap Adventure Ride, an adventure rally which sees enthusiasts build bikes from spare parts, and make an intrepid journey to a set destination on recycled (and occasionally rickety) steeds.Thanks to word-of-mouth publicity, in just three years the ride has grown from a handful of participants, to a fully-fledged national event, attracting dozens o friders from all over the country keen to test their mettle on hand-built “scrappers”.

This year's destination, McPhersons Plains Alpine Retreat, Mt. Kosciuszko, promises to be the “best yet”, according to Perry, and riders wonʼt be disappointed.

"The scenery is stunning up there," he says. "In my opinion, there's no better way to experience the Australian countryside than on a motorcycle. Plus we'll be having a party once we get there to celebrate, and families are welcome!"

While the Scrapheap Adventure Ride may boast enough camaraderie and rugged terrain to make any adventure-lover swoon, it will also be raising funds and awareness  for  a  noble cause. Last year, buoyed by Perryʼs unwavering support for his daughter Grace (pictured), who has Down syndrome, the Scrapheap Adventure team raised $65,000 for Down Syndrome NSW, a small charity in Sydney's greater west that supports families and children touched by the condition.

"We're a small organisation and receive little government support, so it was fantastic to have funds donated by the Scrappers," said Stephen Clarke, CEO ofDown Syndrome NSW.

"Donations of this kind allow us to continue supporting people with Down syndrome and their families, particularly now in regional areas where families can be more isolated and may find support harder to access. We are so very reliant on community support to sustain what we do and fully support the Scrappers in this year's ride!"

Perry is already busy rallying the troops for the Easter event, and hopes that this yearʼs efforts for the association will be even more successful. He also hopes that  this event  will  encourage  people  with  disabilities  and  their  families  to  believe  that  anything  is  possible.

"I may not have legs, but as far as I'm concerned, there's nothing I can't do,” says Perry. “I want Gracie to grow up secure in my love, knowing she can do anything she sets her mind to. Like I said, we believe in "ability" in this household, not "disability. No limits. That's why I love motorcycling so much: there are no limits."

Indeed. And what could be better than spending a long weekend riding your bike with a few mates, all for a great cause?

Riders from all bikes of life (not just scrappers) are encouraged to register and attend. The Scrapheap Adventure Ride is a family-friendly event.

For more information about the Scrapheap Adventure Ride, to register or to make a donation, please visit www.scrapheapadventureride.com.au

PERRY GILSENAN IS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW & MEDIA ENQUIRIES

CONTACT  JESSICA CHALKER on 0434 840212  or  jesschalker@gmail.com

Scrapheap Adventure Ride 3: Easter 2012

KOSCIUSZKO

www.facebook.com/scrapheapadventureride 

Registrations will open shortly – are you ready?