With Andrea Coleman
Co-Founder and CEO
Stephen Leslie Productions is delighted that Two Wheels for Life is the charity partner for Full Throttle Live: The Ultimate Superbike Show on 12th May.
Q. Tell us how and when Two Wheels for Life started, and its mission.
Andrea Coleman, co-founder of Riders for Health and founder of Two Wheels for Life, was born into motorcycle racing. Her father was a development engineer for Vincent, Matchless, AJS and BSA. He also raced Raleigh Rudge motorcycles. Her mother’s father and brother were motorcycle racers. Her brother, Peter Williams, raced John Player Norton, her first husband, Tom Herron raced Yamaha and was team mate to Barry Sheene on Suzukis. She raced too. She did public relations with Randy Mamola and is a great friend of Kenny Roberts. Barry Coleman, a former lawyer, was the motorcycle racing correspondent for The Guardian, wrote Motocourse and the book ‘Kenny Roberts’.
Andrea and Randy wanted to do something to use just some of the wealth inherent in motorcycle racing to save and change lives in Africa. Barry has a great gift of logic and persuasion and between them all they began to both raise money and to create systematic operational models, runa and managed by nationals of the countries in which we worked.
Randy, Andrea and Jeanette Wragg with the support of Shaun Wragg, started and developed Day of Champions in Grand Prix racing – now MotoGP – to raise money and Barry began setting up the programmes in Africa with our support.
We started it because we had witnessed women and children dying of easily preventable disease and health issues simply because they could not be reached with the health care they needed. No one was maintaining the ambulances and motorcycles sent by well-meaning but ill-informed donors.
Q. What impact has Two Wheels for Life made? Can you give us an example of a case study?
Motorcycles and ambulances are now maintained on a ‘zero breakdown’ system however tough the terrain. This saves money within international development and saves precious assets to be used to save lives. It creates skills building and employment. Riders and Two Wheels employ hundreds of people in four African countries. They are highly highly trained and skilled as mechanics, fuel managers, logisticians, trainers etc.
Health care impact 2025
- 10,000 health facilities (clinics, labs and hospitals) served
- 3.2 million patient samples couriered for diagnosis
- 271 sample couriers mobilised for rapid diagnosis
- 1.2 million prescriptions for critical medicines delivered
- 1.2 million vaccines transported
- 520,000 transported with cold-chain protection
- 3.6 million vital health supplies delivered to hospitals and clinics
Case study
A small woman approached us. She said ‘ I live in this very remote area. I am a health worker, serving 5,000 people spread across a very mountainous landscape. Someone gave me a motorcycle. Before I had the motorcycle I had to walk many, many miles or wait for a bus. Sometimes I slept at the bus stop as I didn’t know when it would come. I had to stay away from my home and my children for days as I had so far to walk and some many people to see. The motorcycle transformed my life. I could reach many communities in one day. I could stay in each community for as long as they need me. I don’t know what to do as the motorcycle has broken. We asked her to take us to the motorcycle. It was a Suzuki 125. We found someone to take it to a dealership 50 miles away. The spark plug was ruined, the chain and clutch lever were broken. The dealership mended it and sent it back to her.
Our own Riders for Health fleet were all Yamaha AG100 and 200s but we put her motorcycle onto our schedule and now she has not had a break in her health care routine since. There are women and children alive today because of that woman and her motorcycle.
Q. How can people get involved? Do you have any fundraising events coming up and how can people donate if they wish to?
For many of us, it’s impossible to imagine being sick and not being able to access healthcare simply because of a lack of transport. Join the Two Wheels for Life family, and together we can get care to people who desperately need it – using motorcycles!
Fundraise
Take on a challenge or organise an event to support our work.
Donate
Help us get vital health care to people who desperately need it using motorcycles.
Volunteer
Get hands-on with volunteer opportunities at races and events.
Shop
Buy great products and help us save lives using motorcycles.
Visit twowheelsforlife.org to find out more.
Q. Tell us about your Ambassadors and the work that they do.
Two Wheels for Life ambassadors are high-profile supporters from within the world of motorcycling. They all dedicate their time to help TWFL to raise awareness, funds, and engagement for our mission.
TWFL ambassadors:
Michael Hill
Suzi Perry
Vanessa Ruck, Girl on a Bike
Tom Oldham
Peter Hickman
Q. You will be in attendance at New Theatre Royal Lincoln on 12th May – how can people give on the night? Tell us, also, about the auction you will be running and merchandise selling.
Two Wheels for Life will be hosting a charity auction at the event where you’ll be able to bid on unique signed racing memorabilia and exclusive experiences. We will also be selling a selection of our Two Wheels merchandise, including signed copies of Michael Hill’s book ‘Superbikes, The Stage and Me’ with all proceeds supporting healthcare access for remote communities across Africa.
