The Journey

The NABD was set up in April 1991 by six bikers from Stockport and Manchester who would not accept the idea that disabled people could not ride motorcycles, scooters, or trikes. The initial project was to find a way to adapt a motorcycle for a rider who had suffered the amputation of his lower left leg in an accident. A fund raising party was organised and publicised locally and this prompted several other disabled people to contact the group asking whether it was possible for them also to ride motorcycles. Within 12 months the NABD had just over 100 members and had helped three disabled people to adapt motorcycles and ride independently. Each adaption had to be designed from scratch, the money raised and the engineering problems solved, but from this small beginning the NABD was later to become the world leader in the field of motorcycling for people with disabilities.

The membership of the NABD has now grown to a staggering 5,000+ individual members with the support of over 200 affiliated clubs and businesses. Over the past 15 years the NABD has directly helped over seven thousand disabled people to enjoy the freedom and independence of motorcycling. Unlike many registered charities the NABD does not spend donated money on wages and plush office accommodation. (We now have one paid employee, an office administrator, this post was initially financed by a grant from the national lottery 'community fund' now it is wholly financed from the proceeds of our national rally). All of the other people working for the NABD are volunteers. Also unlike most charities, all donations from individuals, clubs or companies are used 100% for the benefit of, and services for, disabled riders (the administration costs of the association are met from other sources). 

The fund exists to support educational activities and equipment for those with arthritis within the University Hospital Trust.

Selly Oak Hospital

Birmingham