A disabled veteran who restores motorcycles for charity is back in business, thanks to a local motorcycle dealer replacing his stolen tools for free.
Former Royal Navy Submariner Mark Hancock, who lost both legs through illness, restores motorcycles free for the Let’s Do veteran support charity, as part of his rehabilitation. The future of Hancock’s therapeutic hobby looked uncertain after all his tools were stolen during a break-in at his property in July this year – that is until Bristol motorcycle dealer Fowlers stepped in and replaced them for free.
Fowlers’ director Stephanie Fowler said: “A friend of Mark’s contacted us through our Facebook page, asking if we were prepared to donate any spare tools to replace those taken from Mark. He wrote very passionately about Mark’s kindness and generosity, and we knew immediately that we needed to do something to help him get back to his valuable work as quickly as possible. Because all the tools in our workshop are specific requirements of the manufacturers, Chris Wellington, our service manager simply suggested, ‘Let’s buy him a whole new toolkit’, so we did!”
Hancock was presented with the 300-piece tool chest by Sara Gubb, Fowlers’ customer relationship manager, at Bristol Bike Night’s monthly meeting on Friday 2 August.
“I had about £1900 worth of tools stolen, including power tools and a bike I’d built for a girl in remembrance of her brother who’d passed away” said Hancock. “I had taken two years to build it and was about two weeks from completion. These tools mean everything to me; it tells me that there are still good people out there. It’s not just about what I’m building bikes for, it’s about what it’s doing for me”.
Bristol Bike Nights welcome riders of all kinds of motorcycles, giving them the chance to meet old friends and make new ones, compare ‘steeds’, and eat their fill, as well as being a friendly and sociable way to start the weekend. The final meet of the 2019 season will be held on Friday 6 September at Fowlers Motorcycles. Entry is free and all are very welcome. Fowlers Loyalty Cardholders are also eligible for free coffee in the Loyalty Lounge.