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I was racing bikes at the age of 25 and considered to be one of the top racers in my home state of Washington, US.
I had a great love and passion for bike racing, I raced a CBR 600 and was doing really well to the point that I had even got sponsorship, and seemed to start going places. Even my Mum was cheering on the sideline, screaming for me to win, not exactly what Mums usually want for their sons!
I was really happy and then at the age of 26 I got into a car accident, which pretty much broke all the bones in my right foot. I had to have 7 operations over a year and a half and the only thing that kept me going was that I'd get racing again and get back on a bike. Unfortunately it didn't turn out quite like that and I ended up having a below knee amputation.
After my amputation and being stuck in the house for a year and a half with my Mum and Dad taking care of me (not something a 26 year old enjoyed!) I was eager to get my life back together and get a job, and hopefully get on a bike again.
Being stuck in the house, I used a computer a lot and decided to do some research on my family coat of arms, which was in Welsh, 'heb dduw, heb ddim'. I met this girl called Faye who lived in Wales and she was more than happy to help me translate the family crest; it meant 'without God, without nothing'. We kept in touch and over a couple of years and millions of e-mails, I decided to go and meet her. I was a bit scared of telling Faye about my amputation and when I did it didn't change anything at all.
We met up, I stayed longer that I was supposed to! She then came over to meet my family and I flew back here to Wales to live with her and her son. A year later we married and I've settled here now with my family.
As I now had a family, job and a home, I decided it was time to get back on a bike!
A very good friend of mine told me of a Yamaha TZR 250RS that had come up for sale. I was a bit anxious about getting a bike because I hadn't been on a bike since before my accident, but the bike being small and lightweight and in brilliant condition for the money, I went for it.
I loved the bike, but couldn't use the rear brake and had to rely on my front brake, which isn't the safest, so wasn't confident in riding in bad weather (which happens a lot here!).
I went to a motorcycle show at the NEC in Birmingham and saw the NABD stand, so went over and had a look. I talked to a couple of guys there who told me what the NABD was all about. I got the literature and signed up to become a member.
In one of the Open House magazines, I saw that grants were available for a thumb operated rear brake lever. To my surprise, I was really fortunate, received a grant and had my bike adapted at Road and Trail (01248 715415) in Menai Bridge.
I now feel 100% more confident and safe in riding in all weathers and that's with thanks to the NABD and all the people that have helped to raise and donate monies. So thanks to Billy and everyone for all your help, this means a great deal to me after all these years to be able to get my bike and ride again! And to add to it, I've even got my wife into biking, to where she now wants to get her own....maybe I'll let her one day!
Thanks again NABD, I'll wear my badge with pride.
Todd Davis
This NABD grant of ?250.00 was sponsored by a donation from III Rivers HOG UK
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