David’s Arctic adventure supports charities (From Messenger Newspapers)

Arctic trek of Carole Nash boss boosts Riders for Health and the Brain & Spinal Injuries Centre

12:00pm Friday 20th April 2012 in News

A CHARITY challenge taken on by an Altrincham motorcycle insurance industry boss will boost health workers in Africa.

The health workers are set to receive vital training to help them safely reach rural communities in Zimbabwe thanks to the efforts of motorcycle insurance industry boss, David Newman.

David, chief executive of bike insurance specialist Carole Nash, battled storms, fast drifting ice and biting 60mph winds to complete a gruelling trek to the North Pole.

His aim was not just to complete a long held personal challenge but to raise money for a charity which helps health workers in Africa deliver essential care to people in isolated areas.

With mission complete and sponsors chased, David raised £7,000.

He handed over the donation to Riders for Health’s director of fundraising Stephen Harvey and one of the charity’s celebrity supporters, Long Way Round star Charley Boorman.

The cash will be used to fund Riders for Health’s Rider Training School in Zimbabwe.

Mt Harvey said: “The money David has raised is enough to pay for 13 health workers to be trained on a 10-day course covering safe riding, road safety, vehicle maintenance, and will provide them with crucial protective clothing. It’s vital work because health workers trained to ride motorcycles can reach more than three times more people, delivering much needed health care to rural communities across Zimbabwe.”

David, whose efforts also raised a similar sum for the Salford-based Brain & Spinal Injuries Centre (BASIC), said he was delighted with how the money raised was going to be spent. “While it’s personally rewarding to know you’ve raised money for a charity, it is even more satisfying to be able to see exactly what impact it’s going to have. It’s fantastic not just that this money will positively affect so many lives but that it’s motorcycling which is making it happen.”

It’s not just David that’s been backing charity at the Altrincham-based company. Last year BASIC opened a new gym to help people recover from serious spinal injuries, the £15,000 cost of which was raised not just by David but the fundraising efforts of Carole Nash staff. They undertook a range of charity challenges including the Manchester to Blackpool cycle ride and Great North Run.

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