Bikers make it a special birthday for severely disabled teenager
19 July 2015
A group of bikers rallied round to give a severely disabled teenager a birthday he will never forget.
Motorcycle fan, Shaun Hill, of Stornoway, was over the moon when about 30 big-
The youth, who has turned 17, is obsessed with motorbikes but being disabled with complex needs means he will never be able to ride one.
However, Shaun, who needs constant care and cannot live the typical life of a teenager,
got a massive thrill by getting a spin in a Pirates of the Carribean movie inspired
three-
The excited birthday boy was also toured around Stornoway at the head of a lengthy motorbike cavalcade.
Mum, Barbara, broke down in tears of joy when the fleet of motorbikes roared into their quiet street at Doig Crescent in the Goathill area of the town where she lives with Shaun, her partner, Kenny Macleod and their infant daughter, Holly, on Saturday morning.
Wanting to make her son’s birthday extra special, she had posted a plea on social media seeking a motorbiker who would let Shaun get close up to their machine, never imagining such a large number would turn up.
Barbara explained: “Shaun is a huge fan of motorbikes. He gets really excited anytime he sees one.
“He doesn’t speak but motorcycles are one of the few things I found out he really likes.
“He gets a big kick out of them but they are always driving past so he never gets close to one.
“I put a request on Facebook asking if any of my friends’ husbands had a motorbike and if they could give me half an hour of their time to let Shaun get up close to a bike.”
The response was overwhelming.
Local biker Adie Leng drummed up support after posting the message on the islands’ Hebriders motorbike club page.
Then Louis Morrison roped in 18 bikers from Royal British Legion riders branch -
Barbara said: “It was so much fun. Shaun was totally blown away.
“I was watching his face when the motorbikes first started coming down the street. He was just thrilled to bits. He was just really happy. That was really nice.”
She added: “To be honest, I did hardly anything. It was Adie Leng and the boys from the motorbike club who arranged everything.
“It is really down to them it was such a huge success because they put the work in.”
Barbara said: “I am so touched. I was so, so thrilled to see how many bikes came."
The bikers all shook Shaun’s hand and wished him happy birthday.
“I was just so emotional because I was so happy for Shaun. He doesn’t often get to participate in things because of his disabilities which makes it difficult for him to get involved in stuff."
She highlighted: “But the day was all about him and they made him feel amazing. They are really lovely, lovely people and I just cannot thank them enough.”
Shaun and mum, Barbara, with some of the bikers
Some 30 bikers responded and took Shaun for a spin around Stornoway
