Gkam84 needs a trike to ride and help him deal with early Parkinson's - he's 28 FFS

Thanks for that link Steven, that just kinda confirms to everyone exactly why I am trying to get back cycling.

Unfortunately my balance is the worst part, followed by my shakes, that's why I have to go recumbent and trike rather than upright.

The only part I didn't like reading, but already knew was this

"As the disease progresses, speech and balance can be affected and some sufferers become wheelchair-bound."

That really scares the living shit out of me.

Another update, got knocked back from Oakley and Rapha

The email's are coming thick and fast this morning. But this has to be the best I've received yet though out my appeal

Quote:

Dear Keith,

our Team Colombia will be happy to help you by sending one of our 2012 kits for your auction (the 2013 ones are not available yet!).
Please provide us the contact address to ship it, and we will send it at the earliest convenience.

Hope that will help to get you back on saddle. Please do not forget to send us some pictures with your new trike!

I also hope you will have the chance to join us some time during the next season, and meet the team: there are some great people in it, I am sure you would enjoy it.

And again: hang in there!

Kind regards,

David Evangelista
Press Officer

Wow, now that has the potential to be very cool indeed!

Whoever ends up with the Colombia kit - you'll either need to frame it, or be able to climb like spiderman!

I know, its so cool of them to donate an item all the way for Colombia to help little old me.

Its weird. A few UK things, but also USA and NZ

Sooooooooooooooooo

I've ran out of thank you's I think. This is just snowballing and its awesome. So many new contacts made via twitter and email's.

A few turn downs. Which is understandable from the retail stores who already support charities and their own foundations. But otherwise its very positive.

A little update, I have commissioned three piece's of artwork for the auction, which may turn into six because the artist is so excited about me asking her to help out.

They will be, Wiggo in TT yellow at TdF, Cav winning the Worlds and Cav winning a stage in rainbow.

She wants to posterize them but also paint them in acrylic.

How to keep my appeal in the spot light?

First 7 days I had 1387 unique visitors to my page, Its been 10 days now and the final 3 have had 43 visits

Could always commission some bike artwork from me...

Depends what you want really, but I have access to "The best Etching Workshop in London," according to Norman Ackroyd and can also do any kind of relief printing.

All you have to do is ask, and specify the number that you want in the edition.

COOL.

That sounds amazing Raleigh, but I have no idea of what it is. lol.

Fire me at email Guitaristkam [at] gmail.com and have a yap

Got my first non cycling positive today, British touring car team, ES Racing.com have said they will sort something out for me

Now ive been payed, ive made a donation. All the best with everything

Thank you TER......Who's going to become donor 50?

No special prizes, but a iCuddle from me....if you are female

I think the auction/raffle has a treat in store from Raleigh.

It has inspired me to look out some canvas and see if I can't put together something of my own......could be interesting

If someone could try out my website, its not set up totally, but have a look and get an idea, then someone fill in the contact form to try out my settings

www.Gkam84.tk

Do it, go and buy/beg some Art materials and get painting/drawing/printing/experimenting.

That worked a treat Raleigh. Finally got it working.

Nobody else needs to test the contact form, thanks

But if anyone else is arty, feel free to contribute an item to the auction. I'll give you full credit and any information about yourself that you wanted included

If anyone is going to get their art skills.

Anyone this good? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=181021468670&fromMa...

Just got an email from the guy at BMC

"Your autographed item is on its way to you"

Keeping the suspense up for everyone as I have no clue what it is

Contact from Mark Colbourne, World and Paralympic Champion who is PHONING me tomorrow

FAST Freddie Rodriguez is also getting involved

Got a DM from festinagirl on Twitter. I have no idea who she is, but she's be brilliant at tweeting my link.

It reads

Quote:

heard from Marco pinotti - he will try and sort something out for you

I did think about that, but I don't have the foggiest of how to go about it. After seeing a tweet that Laura Trott's jersey sold for charity over a grand.....But if it was her, I'd be to tempted to sleep with it on my pillow.

But if anyone knows how to go about approaching any pro's regarding a signed item of some sort, fire me a message on here and I'll see if I can't charm them

Cool stuff, forget the negative bits, full steam ahead and all that. I've been trying to think of other things which could raise something. I'm cultivating a moustache for Movember, but that's cancer charities. I've committed to some big group walk thing, but it's a. months away, and b. for oxfam. No-one's going to sponsor me for a bike ride since they know I'd ride regardless.

If only one of those pro's would send you a signed jersey to auction!

Day 4 down, just updated my page, bit of negativity today, but nothing overly bad. sitting at 25% now, mental, I am over the moon at the progress and can't thank you all enough. Although I am working on something special for each and every donor.

Its nothing exciting I'm afraid, I'm thinking a hand written letter or something, just to say thank you personally and not digitally. Now to work on my hand writing

Its been truly astounding if i'm honest notfastenough, the response to help me out. 22% there in less than four days now including my own savings.

Going to list the bike's I have for sale here again later, but this time as component parts and see if there are people who just want a bit or two and then what's left will get put on ebay. That might bring me a bit more to put towards the goal.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get so much help so soon. It just shows that there are good people in the world and most of them are cyclist

Thanks for your reply Sam.

I have tried upright trikes, both a modified one with two wheel's at the back and a custom built on for a disabled person who lives quite close with two wheel's at the front.

While that solves the balance issue's somewhat. Because of my body positioning, my leg still goes like the clappers. After trying a recumbent, not only did it solve my balance, it also stopped the left side of my body from shaking to the extent where I cannot cycling.

I was still cycling in the safety of my house on a trainer and balanced between a bed and a wall for any off's I might have, but because the tremors in my leg, that has had to stop aswell.

The tremors have been slowed and as less frequent because of medication now, but its still something I have to live with.

Thank you for your input though

Keith I was really moved reading your story and would like to try to help. First just a question about whether you are sure you need a recumbent trike? An upright trike may well be significantly cheaper and takes more standard components that I and I'm sure many others on here would be able to help you out with. I run a small bike company and though we don't do any trikes I may have some contacts that could help. I know one of my dealers does do some upright trike stuff. If you think you definitely need the recumbent then I'll do what I can in terms of cash.

I can accept offline donation's and add them to the total myself through the online donation tab. It all gets added to the total.

I shall email you, but its a shame about your guitar skills though, being a guitarist myself. Thats what the G in my username stands for

If anyone else wanted to donate but cannot for any reason. Let me know.

although i don't have any money spare atm (see my new bike thread
i do have a roland microcube amp that i bought not long ago.i would be happy to sell it and forward you the money (as i don't really play it/won't be playing outside for a long time,due to my bad guitar skillz

the only problem is that i don't have a credit card (so would have to post you the money) my e mail address is adamibanezcunningham [at] hotmail.co.uk.

will try and sell it this week (there's a shop in devizes that buys 2nd hand stuff.

take it easy bud (you'll get that trike before you know it

Yanto's retweet was 4th on my email!

Thats impressive Simon, you must follow the "right" people.

My email contained

Timmy Duggan joins Saxo Bank
Glasgow to host 2013 National Road Race
Can you ride a bike? (parkinson's riders)
Gianni Meersman leaves Lotto-Belisol
Rodriguez Close To Katusha Contract

Than again, I might not get tweets about myself.

Been quite today as I've not been feeling like sitting at a computer.

Good call Notfastenough, Addison Lee

Good to see that in the weekly email I get from Twitter about stories and sites linked by users I follow, Gkam's page was ranked number one, ahead of anything to do with the Track World Cup, Team Sky, Lance Armstrong or indeed Arsenal stuffing Spurs.

Blimey, where to start?! Just trawl through some of the articles on here I suppose. Addison Lee?

Re the video, I haven't had chance to watch it yet. I tend to look at this site when I have a couple of minutes at work etc. I'll let you know once I've seen it.

Great news on the progress.

EDIT: I wish I had room for your fixie, but sadly not!