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TERESA MILLS DAVENPORT












 



The Testimony of Dying to Ride
How and Why D.T.R Was Founded
by Teresa Mills Davenport


On Saturday morning, June 5th, 2010, my husband Rob told me he was going for a ride on his bike and would be back in a few hours, and left. I went about my normal business taking care of Michael, my disabled son, and Bobby, my eleven year old son.

An hour and half later, there was a knock on the door. I opened it and two policemen were standing there. One of the officers said, Teresa?  I instantly knew what they were going to tell me, I put my hand up and said, “don’t.”  I walked into the kitchen and one of the police officers followed me in, while the other stayed in the living room with Michael and Bobby, the officer went on to inform me that Rob had been killed on his bike, and that paramedics done everything they could do for him, but they already knew he was dead.

I told the officer I wanted to go straight to Rob. Bobby asked if he could come as well as he hadn’t seen his dad that morning. The officer advised me to let Bobby come along and they took me and Bobby to the hospital. They asked me to formally identify Rob.  Bobby and I were taken into a small room so I could identify Rob and spend sometime alone with him. Bobby stood at one side of the table while I stood at the other side.  Bobby placed a small model motorbike to his dad’s lips and then ran out of the room sobbing. I saw the officer hug Bobby and say to him, it’s alright son.

I took hold of Rob’s hand, and while crying I told him I loved him, kissed his forehead, and left the room feeling sick.

The officer asked me if that was Rob and I replied, “Yes.”  I was then asked to sign papers to formally identify Rob.

While walking out of the hospital holding Bobby’s hand, Bobby, as he was crying, said to me, “Mam I’m going to make my dad proud of me.”

I replied, “ you already have, son”

We returned home with the officers and were met by my daughters, and sons in law…I very soon started to receive numerous phone calls asking me if what they had heard was true, had Rob really been killed on his bike? None of the family slept at all that night, we were all in a state of deep shock.


Bobby, while sobbing, said to me, “ I hope that man realizes how many hearts he’s broken.

I felt alone, and totally full of shock, and deeply emotionally hurt so bad I could not think straight. I didn’t know what I would do. I was in deep despair and really afraid of what the future would bring and how I would take care of the rest of my family. I have never felt this alone before.

I never questioned why God let this happen. I never asked myself if God had left me. I never turned away from God. I was seeking Him more than I ever have. I talked to Jesus and asked Him to guide me and tell me what to do now…I told Jesus I felt totally lost and afraid. I continued to talk to Jesus in this way every night.

A couple of months later, the idea came to me to create a safety awareness for motorcyclists on the roads, as I didn’t want another woman or children to go through the pain and despair we as a family went through.

I knew God was telling me to go forward and create a safety awareness program for motorcyclists. I knew what I had to do, but just didn't know how to get it started. So I called the President of Rob’s Widows Sons Chapter, and told him what I wanted to do and asked him to help me set up a page on Facebook.


About a week later, the President came to the house to discuss my thoughts and what I wanted.  He agreed to set the page up, but I had to have a name for the organization. The President came up with the name Dying to Ride, and asked if I was happy with the name. Which I was. He then set up the Facebook page. Then I started to search Facebook to find my late husband’s brother Widows Sons. I planned to contact them and explain about Rob and to ask them to support and join my cause, Dying to Ride.

Dying to Ride started slow, but received a good boost when I contacted the Founder of the Widows Sons, and he promoted Dying to Ride on a few of his Masonic communication channels.  Dying to Ride grew from 20 members to more than 800 in two weeks. Dying to Ride continues to grow today, as Dying to Ride is now being promoted by several supporters. Dying to Ride is seven months old.

Today, at the 1st anniversary of Rob’s death,  Bobby is in the process of having child bereavement counselling to help him cope with the loss of his dad.  Michael, who has severe learning disabilities,  autism and epilepsy, initially showed signs of grieving as was apparent at his dad’s funeral, when after the funeral service when Rob” coffin was placed into the hearse. Michael went to the hearse and placed his forehead on the window and looked directly at the coffin, with a very sad solemn look on his face. People standing nearby saw this and cried. They were saying how much they felt for him, knowing Michael’s disability and here he is shown his pain for his dad. Today Michael appears to be getting back to his usual happy self.


Future Plans For Dying to Ride

To provide emotional and practical support to new widows.
I plan to use the pain I have experienced to help widows, whether they have lost their husbands suddenly and they are in shock, or whether they have lost their husband due to illness and have been grieving for a while. The suffering and pain I have experienced can be an important tool in helping them overcome the pain and desperation they are living at this time of grief. They will know I truly understand what they are going through because I have lived it myself.  

Presentations about motorcycle awareness at teen driver education classes
I feel it is best to create an atmosphere of motorcycle awareness to those who are learning to drive. I plan to put on presentations and show motorcycle safety awareness movies that will have an impact on the learning driver and remain on their mind. They will know about motorcycle awareness at the time they begin driving.

Information booths at auto shows and other places where motorists attend
I plan to print brochures and pamphlets to hand out at auto shows, boat shows, RV shows and other places where operators of motor vehicles will attend.

Press Releases about Motorcycle Awareness
I have obtained lists of media sources to contact with Press Releases about motorcycle awareness.

Please support Dying to Ride by joining and asking your family and friends to join Dying to Ride. It costs you nothing to save a life.

Dying to Ride can now be followed on Twitter, ( http://twitter.com/DyingtoRide ), and on Facebook, http://www.causes.com/causes/531538-dying-to-ride




































 

 



 

 

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