Australia West Coast Bike Ride

Australia West Coast Bike Ride - Articles


Ted Lowe		John Nelson

Help The Children Hear

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Following are some of the articles published about Ted and John

		Australian Master Plumber April 2004, Vol. 9 ~ No. 3
Master Plumber is all heart Retired plumber John Nelson is inspirational In June two men in their 60s will leave Darwin to ride to their home town of Bairnsdale in eastern Victoria – a distance of 8500km, to raise money for the Bionic Ear Institute and the Meningitis Foundation. This is no mean feat but when you realise one of the men, Retired Plumber John Nelson, lost both his legs below the knee two years ago, the feat becomes a mammoth exhibition of courage and determination Nelson, 62, will be riding with Ted Lowe, 66 year old former RAAF Warrant Officer, via the West Coast of Australia.	His interest in the Meningitis Foundation follows his own fight with Meningococcal Meningitis, which caused the loss of his legs. Monies raised for the Foundation will be used to create awareness of Meningitis and to assist in the ongoing support of victims in their recovery.
	Funds raised for the Bionic Ear Institute will be used to further research into the development of a dual ear implant that when fitted to very young profoundly deaf children will enable them to attend main-stream schooling at the same level as hearing children. This is a project dear to Nelson’s heart. He and his wife Kay have raised four children, two of whom were born profoundly deaf.	Nelson is a long-time member of Rotary and his home club, The Rotary Club of Mitchell River, has endorsed the fund raising effort and is seeking the support of the Rotary Clubs along the route. The riders will address Rotary Clubs where possible. They will leave Darwin on 13 June and expect to arrive in Bairnsdale on 1 November. Offers of help accepted by Rotarian John Butler. Telephone (03) 5156 9342.

Desire to succeed

After a number of years in the planning stage and following a set back due to meningococcal septicaemia, keen Bairnsdale cyclist, John Nelson, is ready to ride from Darwin to Bairnsdale. John, a Rotary Club of Mitchell River member, began planning the ride from Darwin to Bairnsdale a few years ago to raise funds for the Bionic Ear Institute. The ride was to commence in June 2002 and was anticipated to take five months . However, a week before his departure to Darwin, John contracted meningococcal septi- caemia. His above average fit- ness, combined with an enormous fighting spirit and the great support of family and friends allowed him to survive this often fatal infection. However, John did lose both legs below the knee. Within three months of leaving hospital, he was back on his bicycle and was able to drive a car. His refreshing sense of humor, especially when he

complains about mosquitoes biting his artificial legs, is part of his strong character. John and riding partner Ted Lowe (formerly of Bairnsdale, now of Brisbane) recently took possession of their specially designed recumbent bikes and will now be able to begin their training schedules, which will include a few overnight rides for John. Only three months remain until the Darwin start date of June 13. John indicated a return to Bairnsdale by early November after travelling 9,500 kilometres from Darwin along the west coast through Broome, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne. Rotary Club of Mitchell River members are providing the back up team. Over 30 Rotary clubs along the route have already promised support for the ride, organised through the Rotary Club of Mitchell River, however donations from any willing local businesses and individuals would be welcomed.

Ted Lowe and John Nelson prepare for their 9,500-kilometer ride from Darwin to Bairnsdale in June on their new recumbent bikes.

John's fundraising underway

The Bairndale Advertiser
Friday, Feb 6, 2004

Rotary Club of IMitchell River member, John Nelson, has been a keen cyclist for most of his life. A few years ago he started planning a bike ride from Darwin to Bairnsdale to raise funds for the Bionic Ear Institute. The ride was to start in June 2002 and it was anticipated to take five months. A week before his de- parture for Darwin, John contracted meningococcal septi- caemia. His above av- erage fitness, combined with an enormous fighting spirit and the great support of his family and friends let him sur- vive this often fatal in- fection, which unfortunately resulted in John losing both legs below the knee. \Nithin three months .

of leaving hospital, John was back on his beloved bicycle and he was also able to drive his car. His refreshing sense of humor, especially when he complains about mosquitoes biting his artificial legs, is part of his strong character. John is about to take delivery of a recumbent bicycle which he will use on his fund raising trip from Darwin to Bairnsdale, starting on June 13, 2004. He has been promised support by 31 Rotary Clubs en-route as well as a supporting team from Bairnsdale, where his trip is to finish in November. A much appreciated kick start to his fund raising effort has been made by the donation of $1000 from Patties Foods

John Nelson (centre) receives a donation of $1,000 from Harry Rijs, of Patties Foods to kick off his fundraising campaign. Also pictured is Rotary Club of Mitchell River president, Bruce Quennell. K64-006

Bike ride had its setback...
but big hearts hard to stop

Rotary Down Under
Issue 448, Feb 2004

In June last year, two cyclists were to leave Darwin, N.T., to ride 9,500km to their hometown of Bairnsdale, Vic.
John Nelson, a 62-year-old plumber and Ted Lowe, a 66-year-old former R.A.A.E warrant officer, were to be rid- ing by way of the west coast of Australia to raise funds for the Bionic Ear Institute.
Funds raised were to be used to further research into development of a dual ear implant, which when fitted to very young profoundly deaf children, would enable them to attend mainstream schooling at the same level as hearing children.
John and wife Kay had raised four children, two of whom were born pro- foundry deaf. So John has been able to recognise the great benefits of this development and what it would have meant to his children had it been available.
John Nelson is a long-time Rotarian and his home club, the Rotary Club of Mitchell River, Vic., endorsed the project as a fund raising effort. John and Ted were to travel by themselves with a trailer attached to their bicycles.

Unfortunately, a week before John and Ted were to leave Bairnsdale for Darwin, John contracted meningococcal meningitis. John lost his lees below the knees, but his determination to ride the West Coast of Australia and to Help the Children Hear did not change.
The way he has handled the disability has been encouraging to all members of the Rotary Club of Mitchell River.
Now on June 13, 2004, John Nelson and Ted Lowe will leave Darwin on the West Coast Bike Ride except they will ride TRI-SLED HPV bicycles and will have back-up throughout the journey.
District 9820 Governor Ray Martin is supporting the ride and the majority of clubs along the route have been contacted to provide hosting, publicity, talks to school children and a welcome to their towns or cities.
John's illness means a portion of the funds raised will benefit the Meningitis Foundation. This will be used to create an awareness of meningitis and assist in the ongoing support to people in their recovery. A webpage is being developed at www.mrrc.org.au/bikeride to keep Rotarians aware of the progress of the West Coast Bike Ride.

John Nelson, of the Rotary of Mitchell River, Vic., lost his legs below the knees after he contracted meningococcal meningitis, but his determination to ride the West Coast of Australia and to Help the Children Hear has not changed. On June 13, 2004, John Nelson and Ted Lowe will leave darwin, N.T. on TRI-SLED HPV bicycles.

mitchellriver@d9820.org

updated: 10-Jul-2004