Julie's blog
Julie Horsfield, Geordie Chapter Director
I can't believe how far we've come already in getting the Ride Aid event off the ground with the aim of raising £25,000 for the Royal Victoria Infirmary. The phrase 'from humble beginnings' is something you often hear and the same goes in this case. The idea of fundraising for this vital piece of equipment for RVI came through a chance encounter back in June this year.
Joe and I began our holiday with a trip to the Ace Café on Harley Night, on the last Thursday of the month. It was something that we had promised to do and thought what a way to start our holiday. While at the café, I bumped into a couple of fellow Chapter Directors who were surprised to see us in that neck of the woods and also Mark Battissini who was judging the custom show. So after loads of talking and buying pressies to take home we settled down and prepared for our trip to Denmark and Sweden. The ride to Harwich wasn't too long so we arrived for the ferry in good time.
Now to the chance encounter. As we lined up there were people heading back to Sweden and Denmark and, as you do, we started chatting to some of them. There was a guy behind us in a van whose son is a speedway rider at Newcastle Speedway and another guy who was chatting about Moor Hoppins - a town in Newcastle. It turned out the guy doing the talking lived in the same area of Newcastle as me.
As I watched this man talking, it struck me that I was at the hospital with my friend Margaret the day that this same man told her those dreaded words, "you have cancer". Those are the three words no-one ever wants to hear. I don't think I'll ever forget it. When you receive that diagnosis, millions of thoughts race through your mind, am I going to die, will I get to see my children grow up and get married, how will the family cope, how long do I have? You're frightened of the unknown.
Margaret's journey began a week later when she underwent a mastectomy, then three months later she underwent a course of chemotherapy. It was a very worrying time for her and I made sure I was there for her on every step of the way during her recovery. I'm pleased to say that she has the all clear now and is enjoying life to the full.
All of these thoughts came to the surface again as my husband Joe joined in the conversation with the Swede and this guy, and chirped in, "my wife says you're a surgeon". He looked surprised and said "I am" glancing at me. I quickly added, 'I'm not one of your patients, it was my friend that you treated 12 years ago and I was there when you diagnosed her. He was astonished that I had remembered him after such a long time.
After a long chat about the Harleys, what we get up to as a Chapter and the fact that we like to fundraise. He suggested that if we ever wanted an idea, the RVI Breast Cancer Unit have only one ultra sound scanner. The scanner is used in early detection of cancer and he was very concerned that if it should break then the scanning will stop; so there you have it the seed was sown.
While we were away the dealership got a new owner and was re-branded Newcastle Harley-Davidson and Buell. On my return, I mentioned my chance encounter with Mr Griffiths at Harwich Ferry Terminal. The outcome is that Newcastle Harley-Davidson and Buell® is organising a sponsored ride from John O'Groates to Lands End to raise £25,000 to fund an ultra sound scanner for the Breast Unit at Newcastle RVI.
On a personal level, I am really humbled that they have taken the idea onboard and are helping out a worthy cause. Who would have thought, if I hadn't been with Margaret 12 years ago at the time of diagnosis, I wouldn't have met Mr Griffiths. My love of riding Harley-Davidson® motorcycles took me on holiday to Scandinavia with my journey, beginning at Harwich Ferry Port, where my conversation with Mr Griffiths took place.
It has given me a fantastic opportunity to help and you can help too.