A massive Thank you for Joey’s Helmet…
Back when plans were starting to come together for the The Annual National Motorcycle Teddy Bear Relay in 2025, by Relay Riders UK. Organisers Tom & Jason sprung it on me, that NI was to host one of the starts for the Relay, and I was to organise it… my brain was in over-drive with the possibilities.
My first thought was the teddy… would it be possible to have the teddy represent where it starts, here in Northern Ireland?
How about a teddy with the yellow helmet of the late, great Joey Dunlop MBE OBE… First we needed the blessing from Linda Dunlop and the rest of the Dunlop family.
Not only was Linda & Joanne kind enough to allow us to style the teddy on Joey, but we also had a starting venue for the Relay; Joey’s Bar, Ballymoney.
Then a chance visit to Heather at Knittin Kitten Yarns, near where I live in Belfast, sealed it.
Not only was Heather on-board with the idea of knitting a helmet for our teddy, but wanted to do it for free to support our fundraising effort.
After some initial thought, we quickly changed from the idea of a knitted helmet to a fabric one. However, that was not without its own challenges… getting the shape right, what material to use to get the shape. Did the teddy need a visor or not?
Whatever your thoughts on visor or not… we think Heather nailed it!
And as the Relay starts its final week, not only have Joey & Kibi bears travelled the thousands of miles, and raised thousands in the process. But that helmet remains in place.
Ashley (Mental Health Motorbike, NI Regional Co-ordinator) kindly supplied us with the patch for the back of Joey Bear’s leather Jacket. And Mary from the County Down Marshalls provided Joey Bear with some much needed boots for his epic journey.
Visit Heather at Knittin Kitten Yarns Via:
