Matt’s motorcycle convoy a celebration of his triumph over challenges

What: Former champion Supermoto GP rider holds awareness and fundraising event for Spinal Injuries Association

When: Sunday, 22 May

Time:  7am – participants meet at Shark Leathers (shop 10/142 Siganto Drive, Helensvale)

              9am – group departs

             12pm – group returns, with stallholders set up in the carpark

Cost: $20 per entrant

 While practising for a Supermoto GP world championship more than three years ago, the Gold Coast’s Matt Kuhne fell from his bike and sustained quadriplegia.

“I’d been racing motorbikes since I was five so it was like second nature to me,” Matt said.

“Unfortunately it just takes that one time for something to go wrong and to change everything.”

That one thing happened on 6 August 2007 when Matt was practising on his 250cc Kawasaki dirt bike at Willowbank before a trip to England to compete. When he went to complete a jump, the bike seat hit him in the backside and he fell over the handlebars.

Still conscious, Matt could not move, but wasn’t overly concerned as he’d had accidents before.

However, this time Matt had injured his spinal cord, leaving him with C5/C6 complete quadriplegia.

Just 19 at the time and positive by nature, Matt spent only 5.5 months in the Spinal Injuries Unit, which is an extremely short amount of time for someone with such a high-level injury.

“After I left the Unit I went to the US for some further treatment, before coming home and establishing my own business, Shark Leathers, 12 months ago,” Matt said.

“Wearing the right protective gear saved my life, so I wanted to establish a business selling good quality, affordable racing gear that people will actually wear.”

While his new business gains momentum, Matt also wants to raise awareness about spinal cord injuries, as well as funds for the Spinal Injuries Association, by holding a motorbike ride convoy on Sunday, 22 May.

“I’ve been surrounded by a supportive family and my fiancée (Kylie Taggart), and have been fortunate to keep living a great life, so I want to give something back,” Matt said.

“I’m going to be involved in the event by riding a trike and we expect more than 1,000 participants to get involved on the day. The more the merrier though – registrations will still be taken up until the day before the event.”

Spinal Injuries Association Chief Executive Officer Mark Henley said Matt’s positivity and motivation demonstrated that life did not stop just because you had a spinal cord injury.

“Yes, there’s no question that a permanent injury is challenging. But, it’s not a life sentence filled with hope and despair.

“We’re inspired each day by our 2,000 members and clients throughout Queensland who are living their lives to the fullest, just differently than they used to.”

Visit Matt’s website at www.sharkleathers.com.au.

Register for Matt’s motorcycle fundraiser by phoning 5573 5118 or emailing kerryanne@sharkleathers.com.au.

Issued 7 March.