Eddie Kidd icon: Please read this thread can we help?

[JohnT]

Today at GEMs many of us were privileged to shake the hand of Eddie Kidd, world famous motorcycle stunt man and his wife Sami.

Eddie was England's answer to America's Evel Knievel. He made over 12,000 jumps in his career and never broke a bone, until his fateful jump in 1996 that sent him into retirement.

On August 5, 1996 Eddie had a serious crash that put an end to his jumping career. He was doing a show for the "Bulldog Bash". His mechanic warned him not to make the jump, but Eddie didn't want to let the 5,000 people down who came out to see him.
The 36 year-old cleared the 17 yard jump over a speeding car, but crashed upon landing. He knocked himself out on the tank, then fell 20 feet down a ravine and landed on his head. He broke his pelvis, collar-bone and 6 vertebrae in his neck. He also suffered brain damage that has put Eddie in a wheelchair.
Today his spends hours in physical therapy. Eddie has jumped everything, but his dream now is to walk again, then get in his car and go wherever he wants to go.

Unbelievably, someone decided it would be fun to steal Eddie's tent and trash it during last night (saturday), leaving him with nothing to shelter in as he attempted to make a little money from signing autographs today. Sami (Eddie's wife) and Eddie himself were both saddened and angry that anyone could do such a thing.

HDRCGB offered the use of one of our tents for the day, which Eddie's wife gratefully accepted. Eddie went on to thank each of us personally, shaking our hands and presenting us each with a signed autograph.

Sami explained to us that Eddie who, has brain damage as a result of his crash attends bike events during the summer months in order to make a little money to see him through the rest of the year. All he now has is his disability pension.

Sami and Eddie live in Kent. Many of us wondered today if there was anything more that we could do as a region to support a one time motorcycle hero and local legend.

What do you think?

JohnT

John, I was extremely saddened to read your write up and to think that fellow 'bikers' could do such a thing !
I personally was not aware of Eddie's injuries until I saw an interview he gave a few weeks ago and was surprised at what I saw, obviously he has made no attempt to cash in on his demise through his infamy and has just knuckled down and got on with it himself to sort things out financially.
With that in mind, I think it would be wrong to ignore his plight and we should do anything/everything to help out.
At the moment its early and I'm fresh out of ideas (I have had a long weekend ), but I am sure collectively we could come up with some cracking money spinning ideas !
Thinking caps on and maybe by Thursday at the Dawg (weather permitting - and yes I will be there ) we can discuss them all further.

Nick

[chopper]

As said the thought that someone could stoop that low to reck the poor fella's tent is beyond me! the guy is an icon and id be happy to stick my hand in my pocket for him, im sure between us we can come up with something

[zipps]

I agree I saw him at Detling about 3 years ago...a very brave ,handsome man...tragic..Rich..

[Hobbit]

if you ask me the guy is still a hero, he asks for nothing, he does what he wants when he wants and trys not to let he disability get in the way many could learn from this guy.
What sort of tent was it that was pinched as i have a largish 2 man tunnel he can have and i will gladdly post it to him, i no longer use it so its gathering dust.

[kevin bolden]

Knowing the clubs membership Im in no doubt we will respond in some positive one way or another

[Big Ben]

Someone did donate the money for Eddie to buy a new tent (top bloke who ever it was) .
It just ticks me off that some tosser would steal the tent in the first place. Keeping in mind poor Eddie only has 3 month a year to make a little money (all he gets from his invalid pension is £640 a month). It is a disgrace how somebody could think it is a laugh to trash his only shelter.

[simonDyna]

Originally Posted by JohnT

Unbelievably, someone decided it would be fun to steal Eddie's tent and trash it during last night (saturday), leaving him with nothing to shelter in ...

Complete and utter scum. Hope they get caught and strung up.

Hilary and I have been sorting out camping gear recently. We have several spare tents including a large 6 man tent which has room for someone to sit in under a porch bit as well as the sleeping areas. It is large enough for someone who is in a wheelchair to be comfortable and move around.

We would be more than happy to give this to him. I would even drive it to his door if required.

If someone knows how to get in touch with him and it would help him out, then just let me know.

[kevin bolden]

Maybe invites to our Rallies with a opportunity for a pitch/stand ?

[WORMY]

maybe we should do some serious fund raising! cant be easy using disabled loos etc on some these sites tried them myself, and as for sleeping in a tent ? how difficult must that be not just for eddie but for his wife to,was thinking maybe we could be hiring him a disabled access motor home to use at some events[ if his wife drives?] or trying get a second hand 1 for him, also second hand disabled caravans ou there if his wife or a friend could tow it. they are about and sure this would give him more freedom the rest of the year and make events more enjoyable for them both.example is on ebay at £65 a night for disabled motorhome .maybe someone knows where we could get a good deal,for a start we pay for a night.we recently did fund raising just locally for a young boy with cancer and raised 60 grand,so a large club like this could make a serious change to someones life.suggest a bucket goes round at each rally ?maybe a bit ambitous but its so sad gets your blood boiling when someone does something to disabled peeps or any 1 not in a postion to defend themselfs, a mate just told me about a company making camping gear for disabled people ,so will take a look.