Hi there hubbers. I just got this mail. Would u be so kind and take 5 minutes and read through this and then think how fortunate u are to be still riding. Over the years I have got to know the hubbers to be very diverse group, but when help is needed they all stand together. So I really would like to urge u to take this opportunity and show that we still care. Please make a contribution. : even just R10 will be appreciated. Skip the pie tommorow (we all need to do that) and sacrifice that R10. For those who would like to skip 10 pie's or 30 Pie's, that will also be cool. Every little bit will help. I know that I need to skip a few pie's, so come one hubbers. Please help. Thank you TS ----------------------------- Dear cyclist,<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Please don't delete this email until you've read it? We really need your help. You can call Panorama Medi Clinic and verify my story. Their number is: +27 21 938 2111. (Unfortunately, you can't speak to <?: prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Norman as he is unable to speak above a whisper.) My dad, Norman Goakes, was involved in an accident during a mountain bike race in May 2007. He broke his neck and was paralysed from the neck down. Here is his story... On May 12th 2007, Norman Goakes started his day the same way he has for the past few years - on his bike. He had been training hard for the Ceres Mountain Bike Challenge, just like many other races including The Argus, which he had completed 9 times. But today wouldn't be like any other day, or any other race, today would change the rest of his life... and the lives of all his family and friends. Only 2.5 kms into the race, a rider fell in front of Norman and unable to stop, he fell over the rider. Then, the whole pack fell on him. The pack picked themselves up one by one, a few scratches and bruises here and there, but Norman didn't get up. In the crash, he broke his neck and lay there motionless. His good friend, Wikus Naude, tried to help him, but couldn't resuscitate him. Norman wasn't breathing and he had no pulse. By the grace of God, a doctor was right behind the pack when it happened and quickly assisted in resuscitation. Dr Hoffman saved Norman's life. The medical team weren't far behind and transported Norman to Worcester Medi Clinic. Here doctors and nurses worked hard to get him stable, but he had to be sedated in an effort to hold him still. Any movement could damage the spinal cord. At the time, it wasn't clear how badly the neck was broken or if the spinal cord had been injured. All we could do was wait... Along with him waking up came the news that he had damaged his spinal cord seriously and doctors predicted paralysis from the neck down. This is a hard thing to take for anyone, but especially for someone like Norman Goakes. He never stopped for anything, he wasn't scared of anything and was always up to the challenge. This will be the very thing that pulls him through this - his stubborn nature and will to win!!! When he was told that he wouldn't be able to move, he showed the medical staff and us that he could move his shoulders. He also moved his legs and feet when they were touched. He could feel when we touched on his shoulders and if we scratched his hands and feet. Norman has been in hospital since May 2007, more than a year now. After a lot of surgery and therapy, he is still in on a ventilator full time and will probably never be released to go home. Therapy and surgery cost money and my mother has spent every sent she has on his care. The medical aid isn't contributing anymore and things are getting desperate. Please help us? We have set up a fund with Nedbank and welcome any contribution, no matter how small. Please help us, even if you can only contribute a little bit. And if you can't, your prayers are worth gold. If you can think of any other ways to raise money, please send me your suggestions. Please contact Rina (sonskyn at tekomsa.net) or Karen (karencorne at yahoo.co.uk) directly for the account information if you want to make a contribution. Please let me know of any contribution so that I may add your name to the list. Of course if you want to remain anon, that's fine too. Thank you for reading this email. God bless Karen ----- I started a blog about my dad after the accident happened. Maybe you'd like to have a look at it? http://normangoakes-rehabilitationfund.blogspot.com/ The account details are: Norman John Goakes Nedbank Claremont Branch Acc No: 1046 356 941 S/Code: 1046 0901 THANK YOU Texas Sally2008-08-26 08:32:57
