Simon Andrews Fund For Injured Riders* was set up in 2014 following Simon's devastating and fatal accident in May of that year at the North West 200. Paul Shoesmith and his partner Janet Cowden raised a fantastic amount of money in Simon’s memory and presented it to the family. Between us we agreed to start a Fund to help with rehabilitation of injured riders as this is what Simon would have wanted. Simon had already voiced his concern about riders having to fund their own rehabilitation/private treatment.
Many racers cannot afford private medical insurance as this could run into thousands of pounds and more often than not, private medical insurance would not be covered on a general medical insurance. The National Health Service is wonderful in an emergency but a racers time is limited and in order to get back to fitness and racing, usually between one or two races.
A lot of racers struggle financially when they have an accident and it has a direct impact on their immediate family and this is where the Simon Andrews Fund for injured riders comes in.
The Fund was born from an idea that Simon had whilst he was alive. He was extremely lucky in having all the help he needed whenever he needed it and no one knew that more than he did.
He fully appreciated how fortunate he was with the help of physiotherapy, cognitive therapy and some of the best aids available to help the riders achieve a faster recovery.
The Joey Dunlop Foundation was established in 2001 on the Isle of Man and The Injured Riders Welfare Fund in Northern Ireland was founded in 2003. We now have the Simon Andrews Fund for Injured Riders in England started by his family, in his name, for injured riders to part fund physiotherapy treatment and access much needed medical services.
So far the Fund has paid out almost £17,000 in the two years since its inception. We have helped numerous riders with much needed bone repairing treatment and full use of the hyperbaric chamber, plus private physio treatment. We also gave a cheque to Air Ambulance in recognition of all the amazing work they have done at various race tracks around the country in getting riders to the nearest hospital facilities as soon as possible.
In 2015 British Superbike Riders stripped off for a charity calendar in a bid to raise more money for this Fund and it proved extremely popular and sold out in a very short period of time. The Fund has been asked to print a calendar for 2017 and hopefully we can achieve this but not without the help of Stuart Higgs who very kindly gave his backing to the previous calendar by letting us use the BSB logo. This must have given the calendar more credence and a huge thank you to the riders who bared their chests for the Fund and the delight of most across the country and abroad.
We would like to thank everyone who has contributed by purchasing mugs, T shirts, beanie hats, calendars, stickers, done sponsored walks, pit lane collections and bought auctioned items and keep sake bears. Special thanks must also go to Steve Clifford of Feridax, Den at Mugs4U who supplies all the stickers free of charge. Ed Troupe at On The Case who designs, sells phone cases and Mark and Jo Walls for all their help and support throughout the year but especially at the TT.
The support from everyone from the biking community and beyond is over whelming and we have to keep thinking of new fund raising ideas so all suggestions welcome.
Paul Shoesmith, who we sadly lost this year at the Isle of Man TT, was a huge instigator in staring this Fund and initially raised an amazing amount of money to start it off and continued to raise large amounts of money until his untimely death but we are honoured that his wife, Janet, is continuing the support on behalf of Paul.
If you are a rider and need some help please contact us here
If you would like to support, help or donate please click here
* Editor’s note: In the absolute true spirit of Simon, the fund haven’t been charged for this promotion, as getting so much as a cup of coffee out of the little tight arse was like herding cats…
