1701 RF final

FLYING SOLO!
James Barson does
24 hour In aid of
Paige Project charity
Not long after my daughter Paige had been
diagnosed with level 5 Cerebral Palsy, we
were inspired to create a charity, specifically
for children with similar disabilities in
disadvantaged circumstances. My
brother David Barson has been the driving
force behind THE PAIGE PROJECT from
inception – go to www.thepaigeproject.
co.za for more details.
I have participated in all of our
fundraisers over the years but decided it
was time to create another, of my own.
Early this year I approached Jason Wessels
of MotoRentals for a bike to ride in the
Red Star 24hr Endurance Race held on
the 10th and 11th of December 2016.
Having worked tirelessly, overcoming a few
hurdles along the way, determination and
perseverance paid off. Having followed
a strict fitness training regime, with my
daughter by my side, I felt cautiously
confident that I had done enough to go the
distance.
I started the race feeling amped and had
to stop myself from going too fast. After
getting into the rhythm and passing the 4
hour mark, my muscles started to seize
up. My heart rate was good but the muscle
pain was such that I just had to push
through. It became a survival game, riding
in the dark and the rain. Doing the night
solo I struggled with the monotony and
becoming mesmerised by the lights. The
rules dictated that I had to stop between
midnight and 06h00. A shower, massage
and a bit of shut eye was in order. I felt the
worst pain between 06h00 and 07h00, on
day 2, my legs, arms and hands had totally
seized up. Putting my knees on the tar was
out of the question. Had a quick massage
and got back into the groove after that. I
managed my best lap time, on lap number
250, having maintained an average lap
time of 2:20. In the end I finished on lap
number 257. Throughout the race I felt that
my participation had not caused any safety
risks or hindrances to fellow riders. My pit
team ran the tyre changes, re fuelling of
bike and rider like pros. We got through the
24 hours without a glitch. Managed to get a
3rd place in the 600 class and walked away
with a grin.
The pain I endured and mental strain was
nothing compared to what many Cerebral
Palsy Kids feel every day of their lives.
The focus is and will continue to be,
raising awareness and funding through
THE PAIGE PROJECT. My daughter Paige
is one of the lucky kids, but there are
thousands that aren’t. I am pleased that
our endeavours, our donors and supporters
have made it possible to raise R70 000 at
the RSR 24 hour Endurance Race. These
funds will be used to purchase 17 much
needed wheelchairs for the children at Little
Eden along with other projects, details of
which will be published on our website and
Facebook in 2017.
It is my intention to ride again in 2017
for THE PAIGE PROJECT, so keep us in
mind when doing CSI budgets. Thanks
to everyone who supported me and my
attempts to make a difference.
James Barson
The Paige Project (Registered NPO)
RIDEFAST MAGAZINE JANUARY 2017 41