Durban - Double amputee and former American and South African soldier Dave Barr, 63, has committed himself to riding 6500km around South Africa to raise awareness for Cheshire Homes and the QuadPara Association of South Africa.
On Saturday evening the double world-record holder stopped in Umhlali to give 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.
The Chutzpah Tour will take the team to 18 Cheshire Homes for persons with disabilities and to communities where Barr will give inspirational talks about overcoming hardships in life.
“No one asked me to serve in this cause,” said Barr, “just like no one asked me to serve in America, Israel, Rhodesia and South Africa. But it’s about honour because each fulfils my life.”
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.
“My first ride after the explosion was freeing. I had been asking 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.”
A few years later he sold everything he had and set off on an unaided 135 000km motorcycle journey around the world, to inspire others.
“In my talks along the way my message has always been clear,” he said. “When faced with a challenge, don’t ask God why. Rather ask: ‘What now?‘ That’s what I did when my legs were amputated.”
WORLD RECORDS
The three-year 1994 tour earned him a entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for crossing northern Europe, Russia and Siberia on a motorcycle in the dead of winter.
“It was hard and gruelling,” said Barr. “You don’t want to know some of the things I had to eat on the way but, just like in the war, when dealing with the enemy you stand up and fight, no matter how many times he knocks you down.”
His 1996 world record was for riding Australia’s “Southern Cross”. He became the first man to complete a motorcycle journey between the four extreme geographical corners of the Australian continent in 45 days - and both of these entries are for able-bodied achievements, not those by an amputee.
For the Chutzpah Tour, Barr invited disabled bikers and ex-servicemen to join him even if just for part of the journey.
One of them was Pietermaritzburg’s Bushy McKelvey, also a double amputee and founder of Out On A Limb, a charity that raises awareness of challenges faced by people living with disabilities.
The 52-year -old holds a world record for the greatest distance on a motorcycle in 24 hours, after riding 3 256km around the Phakisa oval in October 2014.
“I’m only joining the Rough Riders for 1300km, which is about three days,” said McKelvey
“It’s an honour because they are raising awareness of issues that are close to my heart, especially getting wheelchairs for those who have had their legs amputated. There is a real need, especially in the rural areas.”
The Rough Riders’ final stop will be at the Deneysville Motorcycle Museum, near the Vaal Dam, on Saturday 2 May.
The Mercury