Category: Charity

1. Motorcycles help reduce the maternal mortality in Indonesia

   Posted on 12:00am Friday 16th Apr 2010

   Health for All operates in NTT (Nusa Tengara Timur) which is the province which despite major improvement still shows the highest rate of death rate for mothers in Indonesia. The result of a National Health Survey in 2004 showed that in Indonesia as a whole the death rate of mothers reached 307 per 100,000 live births. NTT had a rate of 554 per 100,000 live births.
   

   In 2007, the Health Demographics in Indonesia showed the national decrease reached 208 per 100,000 while in NTT 306 per 100,000 live births. Although the NTT rate had decreased it was still higher than other provinces.

   By way of comparison the rate for the United States in 2005 is 11 per 100,000. Further information on this topic can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maternal_death

   The infant mortality rate in 2004 in Indonesia was 52 per 1000 born alive while in NTT there was an improvement from 62 to 57 per 1000 born alive.

   The result of Basic Health Research in 2007 showed that in NTT 77,1 % of delivery services were done at homes, 6,9 % in government hospitals, 6,5 % at public health or sub public health centres, 3,5 % at village maternity houses, 3,0 % in maternity private hospitals and 0,7 % at other places.

   Basic health research in 2007 shows that 46,2 % delivery were done by trained traditional midwives, 36,5 % by midwives, 11,5 % by the member of the family, 4,1 % by doctors, 1,2 % by medical staff and 0,5 % by others.

   From the facts above it is clear that many births take place with no health facilities. Woman’s mortality is caused by unskilled medical staff and unsterile equipments. A causal factor of infant and maternal mortalities is the minimum means of transportation. This applies both to the families and also to the medical staff who lack the means to reach remote areas.

   Ideally, during the pregnancy period, a mother should get a health check-up and service called Ante Natal Care (ANC). Ante Natal Care is given to an expectant mother during pregnancy according to the standard of midwifery service. This includes the measuring weight and height blood pressure, measuring fundus uteri height and checking tetanus imunisation status and toksoid tetanus, giving minimum go ferum blets during pregnancy, routine and specific laboratory check-up.There are typically four check-ups, minimum once in the first 3 month, once during the second three months and twice in the third three months.

   Due to the condition of NTT and the island's hilly topography in general women do not get the standard health check-ups during pregnancy. One way the health service solves this problem is by providing motorcycles for the use of health staff. The motorcycle is chosen since this means of transportation is capable to reach the remote areas.

2. Wootton Bassett Mothers Day ride - A roaring success!

   Posted on 10:22am Monday 15th Mar 2010

   An estimated 15,000 bikers roared through the Wiltshire market town on Mothering Sunday (14th March, 2010) to honour troops killed in Afghanistan, raising more than £75,000 for the charity Afghan Heroes.

   It was initially hoped that 1,000 would take part however as the event quickly gained a large interest from the Motorcycle community throughout the UK and beyond, the organisers had to close the registration at just over 10,000.

   Motorbikes were arriving at the meeting place of Hullavington Airfield from 8am to take part in the mass ride-in, which started at 11:00 and ran until early evening, with bikers leaving the airfield at 30 minute intervals to make their way to Wootton Bassett.

   The Bikers were greeted with streets lined with people waving and clapping the riders, holding flags and even signs to saying 'Thank you Bikers' and 'I heart Bikers!'

   During each repatriation, hundreds of people turn out to stand in silence as the coffins pass through, as the bodies of soldiers are driven through, en route from RAF Lyneham to the coroner’s office in Oxford. This day brought noise, movement and happiness to the town and also showed  a mark of respect to the town of Wootton Bassett.

   The police, Ministry of Defence and local authorities joined forces to make sure it passed smoothly.

   The Afghan Heroes charity set up in September, 2009 by a group of mothers who lost their sons in Afghanistan.

   All proceeds raised from the ride will go to the Afghan Heroes charity, which helps our service personnel in theatre, families of the fallen and our returning troops.

   www.afghanheroes.org.uk

3. Affiliated Supporter of the NABD

   Posted on 9:10am Tuesday 2nd Feb 2010

   THE BIKER GUIDE are delighted to announce they have become a silver Affiliated Supporter of the NABD - National Association for Bikers with a disability.

   It is very important to THE BIKER GUIDE that they forge links and support the Motorcycle community and this is an important step.

   THE BIKER CALENDAR 2010 in assoccaition with the website, has donated £1 from every calendar sold to NABD.

   The full donation will be handed over at the NABD19 Rally at Astley Park in May 2010.

   

4. Breast Way Round

   Posted on 12:55pm Wednesday 13th Jan 2010

   Currently organising for a 3rd year and up to date have raised a total of around £65,000 for Macmillan Cancer support.

   History from Shirley Ann, event coordinator

   I began organising this event back in 2008 when my best friend, Allison became quite poorly with breast cancer, she had inspired me to learn to ride a bike when I was at a very low point in my life. I felt that if I could organise a small group of women to read the west coast of Scotland and raise money from your income to support there would be giving something back and also inspiring women to go further and perhaps they would have dared.

   The Scottish ride is now becoming very well-known, as we have branded the run with pink. We have a total of 100 bikers predominantly women who wear high visibility pink vests and Mohicans on the helmets.

   We have a small number of men take part in a fabulous way, as they all wear decorated bras over their leathers and the best bra is judged when we finish in George Square in Glasgow, the prize being an Aira helmet... so they are in their sheds as we speak, engineering the most amazing bras.

   We have great fun, we make many friends, we raise a lot of money, and we want more to know about us. This years event takes place on the 28th to 31st May and the route takes you around the west coast of Scotland.

   www.breastwayround.com

5. BIKERS! Are you tough enough to ride 1000 miles in 24 hours

   Posted on 12:00am Wednesday 6th Jan 2010

   In October 2008, the Royal British Legion Riders Branch (RBLR) came up with the idea to try to break the world record for the largest amount of riders to complete 1,000 miles in less than 24 hours.

   The inaugural event took place from Squires Cafe Nr Leeds on Saturday 20th June 2009. The 1000 miles covered either a Northern Route into Scotland or a Southern Route to take in the West Country. In total the event had 171 finishers which 162 riders and 9 pillions, which would have smashed the world record if the Americans hadn't pipped us to the post first. However the event did break both the European and UK records and so far has raised over £33,000 for the Poppy Appeal. In 2010 we aim to make the event even bigger, raising more for the Poppy Appeal.
   So are you up to the challenge?
   
   For more information visit www.rblr1000.co.uk