Help Drew Stand Up!
Donation protected
Drew Keith grew up on his family’s farm at Baerami, NSW. He started racing motorbikes at the age of 4 and it was obvious, even at that age, that he had a talent for riding. He attended St Joseph’s High School in Aberdeen and during his high school years won the NSW Junior Enduro Championships three times back to back.
Having an apprenticeship as a plant mechanic at Muswellbrook Cranes as a day job, allowed Drew to ride semi-professionally including representing Australia in the International 6 Day Enduro in 2001 in France -achieving a silver medal.
Back on home soil, Drew raced for Ballards Honda in many events. At the age of just nineteen and at the height of a promising motocross career, Drew received severe spinal injuries during a race fall at Milbrodale in 2002 - racing in the NSW sprint series. Drew was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter where he was stabilised before transferring to Royal North Shore’s Spinal Unit.
Drew damaged his T6, T7 and T8 vertebra and became a paraplegic, losing the use of his legs and feeling from the waist down. He spent 6 months recovering in RNS, Sydney.
Drew does not dwell on his circumstances and in fact is quite the opposite, doing anything and everything ensuring that his life is filled with as many experiences as possible. Grabbing any opportunity that comes his way. These include quad bike riding, speedway racing, wake boarding, snowboarding, jet skiing and he is also very talented with a drone.
Not letting his disability stop him in 2004 Drew took up racing 1000CC Litre Sprint Cars with the use of hand controls. Drew placed 3rd in the Australian Titles, 2nd in the Victorian Titles and won the Parramatta Gold Cup in 2010.
Drew started working at Hedweld Engineering in 2005 as an apprentice draftsperson and 13 years on now leads the Mecensol team. In his role he helps to develop engineering solutions to make workplaces safer for maintenance staff and operators of large earth moving and mining equipment. Drew has travelled both nationally and internationally with the company and never complains about anything, he just gets on with it never letting any adversities that life has thrown at him get in his way!
In late 2018 Drew was introduced to the TEK Robotic Mobilization Device – a motorized standing frame which would allow him to be upright, have greater mobility and accessibility and achieve better health outcomes. When having to sit all the time Drew gets a sore stomach, bed sores, fluid retention and tightening of infrequently used muscles.
Colleagues are in the process of organising some fundraising to assist in the purchase of this stand-up mobility device (valued at $31,000.00) that will allow Drew to be able to manoeuvre around in a standing position. This revolutionary device will allow Drew to independently and safely sit, stand and navigate environments that were once inaccessible — all while standing at eye level.
Your donations will assist in achieving our goal to purchase this essential equipment to improve Drew’s quality of life!
Having an apprenticeship as a plant mechanic at Muswellbrook Cranes as a day job, allowed Drew to ride semi-professionally including representing Australia in the International 6 Day Enduro in 2001 in France -achieving a silver medal.
Back on home soil, Drew raced for Ballards Honda in many events. At the age of just nineteen and at the height of a promising motocross career, Drew received severe spinal injuries during a race fall at Milbrodale in 2002 - racing in the NSW sprint series. Drew was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter where he was stabilised before transferring to Royal North Shore’s Spinal Unit.
Drew damaged his T6, T7 and T8 vertebra and became a paraplegic, losing the use of his legs and feeling from the waist down. He spent 6 months recovering in RNS, Sydney.
Drew does not dwell on his circumstances and in fact is quite the opposite, doing anything and everything ensuring that his life is filled with as many experiences as possible. Grabbing any opportunity that comes his way. These include quad bike riding, speedway racing, wake boarding, snowboarding, jet skiing and he is also very talented with a drone.
Not letting his disability stop him in 2004 Drew took up racing 1000CC Litre Sprint Cars with the use of hand controls. Drew placed 3rd in the Australian Titles, 2nd in the Victorian Titles and won the Parramatta Gold Cup in 2010.
Drew started working at Hedweld Engineering in 2005 as an apprentice draftsperson and 13 years on now leads the Mecensol team. In his role he helps to develop engineering solutions to make workplaces safer for maintenance staff and operators of large earth moving and mining equipment. Drew has travelled both nationally and internationally with the company and never complains about anything, he just gets on with it never letting any adversities that life has thrown at him get in his way!
In late 2018 Drew was introduced to the TEK Robotic Mobilization Device – a motorized standing frame which would allow him to be upright, have greater mobility and accessibility and achieve better health outcomes. When having to sit all the time Drew gets a sore stomach, bed sores, fluid retention and tightening of infrequently used muscles.
Colleagues are in the process of organising some fundraising to assist in the purchase of this stand-up mobility device (valued at $31,000.00) that will allow Drew to be able to manoeuvre around in a standing position. This revolutionary device will allow Drew to independently and safely sit, stand and navigate environments that were once inaccessible — all while standing at eye level.
Your donations will assist in achieving our goal to purchase this essential equipment to improve Drew’s quality of life!
Give $75 to help get this fundraiser to its goal
Fundraising team (2)
Jan Hedley
Organizer
Raised $2,815 from 12 donations
New South Wales
Drew Keith
Beneficiary
Drew Keith
Team member
Raised $1,150 from 7 donations
This team raised $10,731 from 58 other donations.
