Septuagenarian keeps on riding: Charity support sees lifelong biker remain on two wheels after cancer

A lifetime biker can celebrate his 75th birthday this week on two wheels thanks to support from the National Association of Bikers with a Disability (NABD).

Retired church minister John Schofield, 74, has had bikes of one variety or another since his first Jawa moped at the tender age of 16 but feared it was all over after he lost most of the use of his right hand.

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Having unsuccessfully tried to give up biking in his sixties thinking he was “getting a bit old” (he lasted just three months), John heard about blood bikes. Swiftly taking a BikeSafe course followed by passing his IAM test, he was soon making deliveries for Freewheelers EVS.

However, shortly afterwards John began to have trouble with his right hand, which was eventually found to be a result of cancer.

“I was diagnosed with a large meningioma, which is a tumour in the lining of the brain,” says John. “I had to give up my licence for 12 months and despite a good recovery, I have limited use and feeling in my lower right arm and hand. I thought my riding days were behind me.”

John’s brother-in-law Roland told him about the NABD, thinking they might be able to help. After getting in touch, the NABD said they were able to give him a grant to have a bike converted for his use, so he purchased a Honda NC700S with DCT, while the grant was used to have the bike converted to a left-hand front brake and throttle. Since the conversion John has been riding more than 4000 miles a year.

“Had it not been for the grant, I couldn’t have afforded to have the work done,” adds John. “Without the NABD, I wouldn’t be riding now.”

Like many charities, lockdown has hit the NABD hard and taken away many of their usual avenues to funding with little to no government support. For more info on the charity, or to donate, head to www.nabd.org.uk.