The ride that we have planned means more than a ride around the coast on our motorbikes. It is probably something that a lot of people want to do and I’m glad that with the help and support of a lot of companies, we are able to do this ride.
I want to do all I can to help raise as much money as I can for The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund. This piece I am writing is probably the first time that I have sat and wrote about how as Jake’s Father I felt when we heard about Jakes heart problems.
I remember when Jake was diagnosed with his problems, and Jake being rushed up to Leeds, one of the nurses at Sheffield giving us a couple of photo’s of him and all I could think was, this is not good, why are they giving us some photo’s of him? After a lengthy talk with the surgeon at Leeds before his first operation, we found out just how serious it was. For me having to ring my parents, still so excited from the birth of their first grandson and say to them “I’m sorry, but there is a big chance he might not make it through” was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I didn’t know anything about the condition, I didn’t know how good the doctors and surgeons were. Basically my sons life was in a total strangers hands.
Looking back now, nearly 4 years on, I want to raise as much awareness as I can, and by doing fundraising like this ride, I want to help other families that are put in the position that many families find themselves in. Every single doctor, nurse, surgeon and staff member up at Leeds General Infirmary Heart Centre do an absolutely magnificent job and treat every parent and child that pass through, with such love and care.
So, what does the ride mean to me? It gives me a tiny chance to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving my sons life, but more than that it gives me great pride in helping such a great charity towards saving other babies and children’s lives.
Thank you
Rick
