Fuel brand Jet has supported two committed disability campaigners as they took on the epic challenge to travel from John O’Groats to Land’s End in the world’s first high performance motor trikes specially designed for wheelchair users.
Dave Burdus from Northumberland and Carl Brunning from Humberside met thirty years ago in Hexham General Hospital’s spinal injuries unit, when both men were recovering from life-changing accidents that left them paraplegic. Fast forward thirty years and the avid bike fanatics and disability campaigners wanted to do something that would help challenge the perceptions of disability, raise funds for charity (the Percy Hedley Foundation which provides services for disabled adults and children) and promote the Department for Work and Pensions’ Disability Confident Campaign.
The daring pair travelled a total of 2,200 miles on their specially adapted trikes, stopping at various locations along the way to meet supporters, give interviews to the press and identify examples of disability confidence. On the trip, Dave and Carl were invited to 10 Downing Street to meet Mark Harper, Minister for Disabled People, who praised them for their commitment to raising awareness of what disabled people can achieve.
Dave comments: “We couldn’t have completed this phenomenal JET Journey and personal trip of a lifetime without the generous support from JET in the form of the 1,145 litres of fuel we used and in helping to fund our Disability Confident video documentary.
“Travelling from John O’Groats to Land’s End in our specially designed trikes was a unique challenge and attracted a lot of attention. When we pulled in to fill up at JET forecourts along our route, all heads turned and we ended up chatting to customers for ages. Everyone asked us about our trikes rather than talking about our impairment or wheelchairs – which was very refreshing.”
Pete George, Managing Director of Phillips 66 UK & Ireland Marketing, adds: “2014 is an important year for the JET brand as we celebrate our 60th anniversary. JET has certainly been on its own journey over the past six decades so what better way to mark this occasion than by supporting a journey of a different kind, one which is so inspirational and thought-provoking. We are delighted to have helped play our part in making Dave and Carl’s longstanding dream a reality.”
