Where to start? At 25 years old, life was sweet until June 1995. I had an argument with a forklift truck (and due to its 2 ton weight advantage, it won). It resulted in a below knee amputation of my right lower leg. I got back on my feet and got myself another job of a more sedentary nature.

In the year of 2000 I was sat in traffic trying to travel the 9 miles to work taking about 40 minutes, thinking ' there has to be an easier way' , when a scooter came razzing between the traffic. 'AH HA! Seed planted, I must get one !'

A week later, I am the proud owner of a Gilera Runner 125 and had passed my C.B.T. The journey to work now took me only 20 minutes 'Great!'

I enjoyed my scooter and went everywhere on it, but as time went on I fancied something a bit bigger.

Just two large problems, I couldn't use the rear brake on a conventional bike and I hadn't got my full licence. I asked around but nobody could give me any advice. Then there it was, a tiny article in a Twist & Go magazine mentioning the NABD.

I joined straight away and after chatting to Billy it was obvious I would have to buy my own bike, have it adapted, then take my test on it. I needed a bike that was tall- as I could only just bend my leg enough to get it on the peg of a sports bike (being 6.2ft doesn't help either} . So I opted for a Yamaha TDM 900. Thanks to a grant from the NABD, for a thumb-operated brake, I got it adapted by Riossi in Sheffield. Then I just had to pass my test, so a big thanks to Phi1 & Ann and the rest of the crew down at Bike Safe Rider Training of Sheffield.

On the 22nd of April I was handed the pass sheet from the examiner and was grinning from ear to ear. What would I have done without the NABD? Thank you, to all of you, keep up the fantastic work, (and that reminds me, my membership is due}. I hope to meet some of you in the very near future at one of the rallies.

This NABD grant of £410.08 was sponsored by a donation from '3 Close Support Regiment'