..:: AUTO REPORT AFRICA ::..
Related Articles
Johann Nothnagel, (61), has embarked on another courageous voyage as he appeared not ready to give up what he enjoys doing despite his health challenges. On Friday, 26 August, he left Cape Town on an over 4,000 km voyage in support of people like him suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS).
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an illness of the central nervous system. For unknown reasons, the immune system attacks the body, damaging the myelin coating around nerves, which causes messages from the brain to not reach their destination.
This damage to the nervous system affects people in different ways, but all MS sufferers experience extreme fatigue, find it hard to balance, and may find all or some of their senses suddenly not working as they did before. MS cannot be cured and often has a devastating effect on the lives of the person with MS and his or her family and friends.The illness makes riding a motorcycle over such a great distance extremely hard, but biking is something Johann, a software developer, has always enjoyed.
“I was diagnosed with MS in February 2009, but in retrospect I can recognise some symptoms back to 1971,” Johann says. “At the end of 2010, I was faced with huge medical bills. Although I mentioned it to certain friends, I never expected any help. Unbeknown to me, the Think Bike members of Cape Town collected money and eventually covered my medical expenses.”
This led to the first Unchaining MS ride in 2011. Johann’s bike at the time, a Buell Firebolt XB12R, was belt-driven, instead of the more common chain drive. And so “Unchaining MS” was born and Johann completed it on the Buell, riding solo most of the journey.
Johann’s message when he visits MS support groups and pwMS (persons living with MS) around the country is this: MS doesn’t mean giving up on everything you enjoy doing.
Through the media and interaction with groups and individuals, Johann aims to give people a better understanding of the condition. Unchaining MS raises funds too. Hyundai, Kawasaki, Sintrex and a private donor are this year’s logistics sponsors, so all monies raised go to MS South Africa for the support of its members. More specifically, it’s used for financial assistance of PwMS, home visits (where possible), counselling, support groups and info talks, a volunteer programme, workshops, advocacy, resources, referrals and guidance.
“We invite all bikers to join us on the road to show their support or donate, or just because they enjoy the feeling of freedom that comes with riding,” says Justus Visagie, co-rider and co-organiser. “If you’d like to meet up with us, on the road or in your city or town, please contact us before we pass through,” he says.
In 2013, Johann rode a Triumph Tiger 800 and he was unaccompanied for most of the journey, as in 2011. This year, there’s a team of three: Johann on the Kawasaki Versys 650 and Justus and Stephan Lourens taking turns to ride the Versys 1000 and drive the Hyundai H1 Panel Van. The van can transport a bike if the team encounters a serious problem.
The group left Cape Town at 13:00 on Friday and spent their first night in Barrydale. The major cities on the route are Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Durban and Port Elizabeth. MS Unchained 2016 is expected to return to Cape Town on September 7.
About Johann Nothnagel
Before being diagnosed with MS, Johann didn’t have comprehensive medical aid cover, so he ignored the strange symptoms he experienced over a number of years. Decision time came when he joined a group of friends for a walk on the beach at Mossel Bay and was shocked to find that after 500m he did not have the energy to pick up his right foot from the beach sand.
In 2009, Johann was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS. Finally, he could put a name to what had become his way of life. The diagnosis could not dim his passion for motorcycles. Johann is a true biker, enjoying the open road and all aspects of motorcycling since age 16. He owns a Triumph Tiger 800 and rides it despite these symptoms – a weakened right leg, (left leg also starting), almost permanent leg pain, regular leg spasms, regular severe headaches, needles and pins in hands and feet, permanent tinnitus in both ears and severe fatigue.
“Johann loves his two Jack Russell Terriers, Lula and Mila, his constant companions. But it is the MS community that has his heart. It is their needs that Johann wishes to bring to the attention of the public,” Non Smit, Director, Multiple Sclerosis South Africa Western Cape, said.
