Mike Aitken Fund
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- mjbauer
Mike Aitken is a BMX rider from Salt Lake City, Utah. He's got a wife and son and he's highly regarded by the BMX community as a great rider and person.
On Sunday, Oct 4th he sustained a severe head injury while riding his bike. He received breaks/fractures in his orbital bone, cheek, both sides of his jaw, as well as throughout his sinus cavities. Since the accident he has been unconscious.
Like many professional riders, Mike's BMX career makes health insurance companies consider him too high of a risk, and he is deemed "Uninsurable". Despite multiple attempts to obtain health insurance he is currently uninsured.
Because of this, he and his family are appreciative of any donation that can be offered.
Learn more and donate here: http://www.mikeaitken.com/blog/
To see him in action:
- SteveJobs0
i don't mean to be rude, but the thing that stands out in that video is the fact that he's not wearing a helmet most of the time.
i hope he gets better, but i also hope that this raises an issue with younger aspiring bmx'ers - and more importantly, i hope he champions the cause to wear a helmet when riding.
- mjbauer0
I shouldn't have posted the video.
- akrokdesign0
if he couldn't even get insurance. where is the FREEDOM of choice?, america. he should had moved to france. healthcare for everyone.
wearing a helmet is essential.
anyway...
best wishes for mike. hope for the best.- he was free to choose and he did so.
hope he gets well.rafalski
- he was free to choose and he did so.
- Langoid0
Just for the record if you did ride bmx like i have been for 8 years then you would know that wearing a helmet is uncomfortable, annoying and just plain fuckin lame. The only thing that is wrong with his situation is that he applied for 6 or 8 different insurance companies but of course in America we all know they look at him as a liability. Make a fuckin donation you shits and loose the helmet talk, I'm sure he realized the consequences just like all riders that don't were any protection but stop sounding like his parents he already has two.
Fuck Helmets
- Raniator0
^ you sir, are an idiot. congratulations.
- kelpie0
cheers for confirming in my mind that I won't be donating to this.
- janne760
he chose to take this risk himself. also, wearing protection has nothing to do with being "cool" or other extremely childish considerations, it is just a wise thing to do.
so, no, i am not going to help.
- SkyPoo0
"Quick, someone needs cash, lets scan the situation for reasons not to help".
Where's your samaritan spirit you lot. Shame on you. The very reason any of us would ever need to ask for help from total strangers is that we've failed to foresee and protect against whatever crisis may inflict us - often through a dumb decision to forego security. Sure he should have wore a helmet, yes he's fucked up massively, but his family is asking for help... he's fucked up massively and they're really in the shit now.
They must be utterly desperate. I bet they know acutely by now that he should always wear a helmet. Admonishments can follow... for now, either have a heart and donate, or have a heart and keep your disapproval to yourself.
We all fuck up badly and need a helping hand here and there. For the record there's plenty of archive shots of him wearing a helmet in competitive situations and only this one promotional video to my knowledge where he chose to leave the helmet off.
Come on. Be nice. Nobody's saying you are under any moral obligation to donate, but what do you gain from throwing poo at the situation?
- creez0
for my part the only thing that surprises me is that being a professional and recognize bmxer(?) he dont have money for his treatment.
- 23kon0
creez, well i cant see many bmx sponsors continueing to sponsor someone who cant go a bmx. to them it's only business.
It sure is some shit luck having an accident like that.
However I do agree with what everyone is saying about not wearing helmets. I used to skate for years and whenever I was skating ramps / concrete skate parks i'd always have pads on.
It definitely wasnt the coolest thing to wear - in fact most skaters dont wear protection at all. But those pads definitely saved my knees on MANY an occasion.I find it crazy that someone, especially a bmx, skating ramp or street doesnt wear a helmet.
And like someone said above, I hope that this unfortunate event will help promote the wearing of helmets in BMXing and Skateboarding etc.
So the 'kids' realise that "hrmmm, maybe it isnt so cool NOT to wear a helmet" when they see one of their heroes injured like this.I've never heard of the guy, and i dont bmx so i wouldnt be donating. I dont mean that in a bad way - its just that if i gave money to everyone that asked then i wouldnt have any for myself.
If this was some skater who I used to look up to then I definitely wouldve put my hands in my pocket though.Hope the guy gets well soon.
- mjbauer0
For the record, I absolutely agree that safety gear is a must, but regardless he's a person who is in need and felt compelled to help. If you disagree, that's fine, don't donate.
Thanks to those of you who stood up for common decency. I appreciate it.