Simon Milward (1965-2005) was General Secretary of the Federation of European Motorcyclists
Associations (FEMA), based in Brussels, Belgium, from 1992 to 1999. He represented
motorcyclists in the institutions of the European Union concerning road safety and
consumer issues. A collision with a car resulted in hospitalisation where he reflected
on his good fortune at receiving automatic medical help. At this moment Simon decided
to realize his dream of riding a motorcycle around the world and also to raise funds
for international medical aid, thereby redressing the balance a little. His world
trip, named the Millennium Ride, started in 2000 and was in support of the charities
Medecins sans Frontieres and Riders for Health. In May 2002, on seeing a direct and
unmet local need, Simon helped to establish a pilot project based on the Riders for
Health zero breakdown principles on the remote Indonesian island of Flores. This
was called Health for All (HfA). Simon Milward continued his journey through Latin
America and then through Africa, travelling north from South Africa, all the while
continuing with his fundraising. He also visited the RfH center in Zimbabwe and continued
to develop his thoughts regarding extending the Motorcycle Outreach concept on his
return to Europe. Sadly, Simon lost his life in a road accident in Mali in March
2005. At the time he was on his way to the Riders for Health center in The Gambia.
Simon was repatriated from Africa and was cremated in his family home town of Exeter
in South West England. Since April 2005, Simon’s family and close colleagues have
worked to ensure that Simon’s legacy and vision for sustainable healthcare delivery
in developing countries survives and in August 2005, Motorcycle Outreach Ltd (MoR)
was incorporated in the UK. This new organization intends to build on the work started
by Simon through MoR USA and HfA in Flores. Motorcycle Outreach will ensure that
the HfA pilot project continues to be financially supported and continues to develop
best practice which can be applied in other areas. For further information on Simon's
Millennium Ride see website.
