‘No holds Barred’ for biker soldier
"If you have something in your heart that you know you must do, get up and do it."
FORMER American and South African soldier, Dave Barr, embarked on a 6 500km journey around South Africa to raise awareness for Cheshire Homes and the QuadPara Association of South Africa.
The 63-year-old double amputee stopped at the Queensburgh Cheshire Home to deliver a motivational talk as part of his Chutzpah Tour. His journey on a Harley Davidson 1200 Sportster, with his team, the ‘Rough Riders’, began at the Ann Harding Cheshire Home in Randburg on 15 April.
For the Chutzpah Tour, Barr invited disabled bikers and former servicemen to join him on a journey to 18 Cheshire Homes for people with disabilities and to travel to communities where Barr will give inspirational talks about overcoming hardships in life. They plan to raise awareness and raise money for entry-level wheelchairs for people who have lost mobility.
When explaining why he started this cause, he said, “Just like no one asked me to serve in America, Israel, Rhodesia and South Africa, I took it upon myself to serve people with disabilities. To give people the chance to get moving again and to start doing the things they love – that’s fulfilment enough,” said Barr.
Barr’s legs were amputated after a landmine explosion in 1981 while he was serving in the South African Defence Force. He returned to his home in the United States, where he was reunited with his family and his 10-year-old Harley Davidson motorbike.
“My first ride after the explosion was freeing. I asked God to direct me to my next purpose in life, and while riding down the highway it hit me. I then started preparing for my journey around the world,” he said.
A few years later he sold everything he owned, packed up and set off on an unaided 135 000km motorcycle journey around the world to inspire others.
“In my talks around the world, I presented this message: when faced with a challenge, don’t ask God why. Rather ask, “What now?” That’s what I did when my legs were amputated,” he added.
His association with Cheshire Home goes back to 1988 where he took a few people with him to jump out of a plane, 30km above the ground. He said it was a first for a quadriplegic.
His message to others is inspiring: “If you have something in your heart that you know you must do, get up and do it. Life is not a dress rehearsal, it’s real-time, beginning to end.”
The Rough Riders ended their Chutzpah Tour at the Deneysville Motorcycle Museum near the Vaal Dam on Saturday, 2 May.
