durban - A large turnout is expected on Friday at the memorial of Hillcrest High School Grade 10 pupil, Jared Sutton, who died at St Augustine’s Hospital last week after sustaining massive injuries in a motorbike accident.
A week after the accident, Jared’s parents made the decision to turn off his life support and his organs have been donated.
Through a Facebook support group set up by Karin Hoyte, Jared accumulated 2 000 followers, one of whom suggested a memorial bike ride in his honour.
The ride, aimed at creating awareness of bikers, started at Lillies Quarter in Hillcrest on Sunday and ended at Woodcutters in Kloof. There was a procession of about 40 bikers, including Jared’s family and friends.
Liza Macnab, who came up with the idea for the ride, is the daughter of the late Tony Day, who is described by Think Bike director, Safron Hendry, as a pivotal player in bringing the Think Bike concept to South Africa.
Macnab said that “although Sunday was about Jared, his story was not unique”.
She aimed to draw attention to the presence of bikers on the road, saying: “It is important to make bikers and motorists more aware of each other.”
It was “a pleasant surprise”, she said, that Jared’s family attended the run, “and his dad was lead rider”.
Jared’s father, Mark Sutton, thanked everybody on the Facebook site for their “compassion, prayers, thoughts and experiences”, saying they had been “an immeasurable encouragement and strength” to the family.
He confirmed a memorial service would be held for his son at 11am on Friday at the City Hill Church adjoining the Hillcrest Christian Academy.