Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo to feature at the Richard Burns Memorial Rally at RAF Marham
As part of its major initiative to support the creation of a national network of Brain Centres in collaboration with the Brain & Spine Foundation, the Richard Burns Foundation’s next calendar event is the Memorial Rally on August 13/14, which will be contested by the MINI WRC Team with Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke.
The rally, in its fourth year, is kindly hosted by Royal Air Force Marham and organized by Kings Lynn & District Motor Club . In 2000, Richard completed a sortie in a Tornado GR4 alongside Sqn Ldr Tim Rust, accompanied by the then Wing Commander Phil Osborn. In reciprocation, Richard gave members of the aircrew and other serving staff at RAF Marham stage rides in a Subaru Impreza WRC. The enduring goodwill between Richard and the Royal Air Force led to the inception of the rally, which in the past four years has attracted full entries of clubmen competing alongside international stars such as Markko Martin and Mark Higgins, and in 2011, includes the sensation of the newest and most vibrant team to contest the World Rally Championship, the MINI WRC Team.
RAF Marham is currently at the heart of the UK’s overseas engagements in Afghanistan and Libya, with Squadron’s from the Norfolk base supporting the continuing Operation ELLAMY humanitarian air support in North Africa along with the support to UK and Coalition Troops as part of Operation HERRICK patrolling the skies over Afghanistan. Marham is home to over 3,600 personnel and away from conflict, is adding a fascinating dimension to the rally with a Tornado flypast cueing the start of the event to fly bys from aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
With action on the ground and in the sky, the event is more than just a rally; a hanger has been dedicated to a Remembering Richard exhibition, featuring previously unseen film footage of Richard’s life and times, displays of his competition cars and associated memorabilia from his motorsport career. As much as exhibit the collection from archives, those attending the rally are encouraged to contribute to the displays with photowalls and exhibition space for personal memories of Richard.
The event offers something for everyone and includes fun fair rides and other attractions for the family.
The rally is a single-venue tarmac event on the Royal Air Force Marham airfield and includes stages of 12-14 miles. Organised by the Kings Lynn & District Motor Club (KLDMC), tickets are £10 on the gate and £8 in advance, with children under 16 going free. More information for entrants and spectators as well as advance tickets can be found at the official rally website, www.richardburnsmemorialrally.co.ukand on Twitter @BurnsMemRally.
Proceeds from the event will support RAF charities and the Richard Burns Foundation’s mission to help create a nationwide network of Brain Centres in association with the Brain & Spine Foundation.
Ten Startling Facts About Neurological illness & injury in the UK
More people die or are left severely disabled by neurological disorders than either heart disease or cancer.
Brain tumours affect 5,000 people every year in the UK and are the commonest solid cancer to affect children.
The range of neurological disorders affecting the brain is almost endless and affect us in vitro (Spina Bifida, neural tube defect) to babies and young children (Autism, Meningitis) to young adult (Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone disease) all the way through to later life (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s).
Head injury is the biggest killer of teenagers and young males into their mid-20’s in the UK (more than appendicitis or broken bones) and 12% of head injuries result from sporting activity.
The overwhelming majority of head-injured patients – around 85% - will NOT benefit from seeing a specialist neurologist. Most will be treated by orthopaedic surgeons.
For 95% of head injured patients, the so-called ‘golden hour’ (the 60 minutes during which specialist intervention can significantly affect outcomes) is spent in the back of an ambulance.
You would be twice as likely to wake up in a hospital bed with a brain surgeon at the end of your bed in Greece, Portugal or Spain than you would in the UK.
Of 20,000 consultant specialists in the UK, there are just 140 neurosurgeons. There are NINE TIMES more specialists per head of population in Japan than the UK.
One in ten head injured patients in the UK die due to mishandling in hospital or during transportation to specialist neuro units.
Despite this paucity of provision, stroke victims occupy 11% of all hospital beds. Stroke will affect 1 in ten of us.
Find out more from the Brain & Spine Foundation at: www.brainandspine.org.uk
Find out more about the Richard Burns Foundation at: http://www.richardburnsfoundation.com
