How we began:
A few words from our founder, Béatrice de Courtivron
While riding his motorcycle through South America in 2005, an acquaintance of mine broke his thumb and was eventually treated in Buenos Aries by an orthopedic surgeon (and fellow motorcyclist) Dr. Gerardo Solá.
My acquaintance told me about Dr. Solá’s work in the non-profit Fundación Pilotos Solidarios. Dr. Solá (left) had founded the Fundación to aid some of the poorest, most isolated people in Argentina. His goal was to help those who are so easily forgotten; those who have no safe water supply, no electricity, poor if any roads and little fuel for transportation. Many of these less fortunate peoples suffer from the debilitating, parasistic Chagas disease and have little hope of effective treatment. Their needs are great and their plight is Dr. Solá’s passion. I was moved by his tireless efforts to get resources to those who needed them and began corresponding with Dr. Solá in earnest.
I also found out about a truly visionary man, Simon Milward, a Brit who was riding his motorcycle around the world, raising money for health services in underserved areas. Simon and Dr. Solá met while Simon was riding through Argentina and began working on a plan for Argentina’s Northwest provinces that Dr. Solá would implement through Fundación Pilotos Solidarios.
As I continued corresponding with both Simon Milward and Gerardo Solá, I felt so strongly about the work and devotion of these men. From Simon, I was given his vision, plans and ideas. Geraldo Sola’s passion for his people became mine. I had no idea that Simon Milward, a man who so dramatically influenced my life path, would be in my life so briefly. Simon was killed in a motorcycle accident in Mali, West Africa on March 4, 2005. I cherish his correspondence sent to me during those brief months and the insights that he shared so freely.
It was from these conversations that Moto Medics International was born. MMI is our effort to make a difference; to help those who have so little. If not us, then who? At the end of the day, we all share our humanity.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Simon Milward.
