We’re reaching out to readers on behalf of Howard Bradley who has worked in the industry all his life, but illness has now taken its toll and he’s asking for help.

He says: “Firstly, I am extremely embarrassed to ask anybody for help.  As someone who has always striven to help others, I never thought that the position would be reversed.”

Howard has had a passion for motorbikes for over 45 years. His illness means he knows his riding days are over. In his words he has “enough trouble standing on my own feet, let alone getting my leg over a bike!”

He has struggled to find work in the last two years despite applying for over 390 jobs. It’s the first time that he hasn’t worked since leaving school in 1977, relying on just £360.00 per month as income support.

Until recently he was able to walk a little but now lung and heart issues mean he’s short of breath at very small distances.

Here’s his wish. He’s found a mobility scooter that he knows will open up his world by being able to get around more. Added to this, it has styling cues taken from a Harley Davison so will also make him feel a part of the biking community again – an important part of his identity that he misses.

“I do not have, nor have ever had, a mobility scooter before and am not in the financial position to buy one.  I am therefore asking with much embarrassment for a helping hand please.”

The scooter costs £3,400. Please take a moment to read Howard’s story and if you’re able to, please donate through his GoFundMe page. Let’s help Howard get mobile again. If he exceeds his target, anything above and beyond will be donated to Help for Heroes.

Donate to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-howard-get-a-disability-trike

Howard’s story

Born in 1961 into a family that had been involved in the textile care industry since 1832 – his career destiny was almost certainly pre-ordained! He started working at the family drycleaning business – Bradleys – when he was just eight, but then full time after leaving school in 1977. Bradleys was always a London firm from 1832 until 1977 when they moved to the brand new “town” of Milton Keynes.

In his spare time he volunteered as a Special Constable in Thames Valley Police and also a volunteer Motorcycle Instructor with ROSPA – road safety and motorcycles are a great passion.

In April 1988 whilst riding his motorcycle to work, a car drove through red traffic lights and impacted straight into his side critically injuring him with broken femur, fibula and knee, and blood clots to his lungs.  He had less than five per cent chance of survival and was on a ventilator for three and a half weeks and in hospital for three months.  He had only been married for nine months at the time.

They were going to amputate his right leg due to the severe damage but he was too ill for the operation and the leg was left.  He was never meant to be able to walk again, but on walking sticks six months later he started back at the family firm and even managed to spot up garments by holding onto the spotting table for support.

Through his career he went on to work with Sketchleys and then Johnsons Cleaners where he became group technical consultant and set up a special textile cleaning unit at new factory premises in Rugby and also a testing facility. He did go back to Bradley’s but was left with nothing from the family business when it was bought by a company who then went into administration – a stressful event that still pains him to this day.

He became unwell in 2019 and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, sarcoidosis lung disease and severe osteoarthritis in my knees. Despite everything he says, “I still maintain a stupid sense of humour, I still love classic motorcycles, but can never ride and am still passionate about the textile care industry.”