This article was posted by Organ Donation Isle of Man - The Gift of Life
https://organdonationiom.com

Dave and Sue share their son’s story and how he filled his 25 years doing what he loved most. How amazing that at just 10 years old Billy had already made the decision that if anything happened to him he wanted to donate his organs. In 2016 after a motorbike accident took his life his parents agreed to carry out his last wishes.

Billy Redmayne 6/2/1991-17/4/2016

“Our Son was like a tornado. He joined the Army at 16 and 3 quarters, he attended Army Foundation College for his first year. Still only 17, he then went to the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick to carry out the Parachute Regiment training course known as “P Company” he passed this with flying colours and then aged 18 was then attached to 1 Para who are part of the Special Forces Support Group. His first tour of Afghanistan was in 2010, six months of night operations supporting the SAS in their offensive role against the Taliban. If this wasn’t dangerous enough, he decided to have a go at motorcycle road racing!

Having enjoyed riding motorcross as a schoolboy, with two other Organ Doners, Daniel Boyde and Steven Green he was quite good at road racing. He was successful on the short circuits in the UK, but the ultimate goal was the Manx Grand Prix then onto the TT.

In 2014 on his R&R from his third tour in Afghanistan he was entered into the Manx Grand Prix Newcomers and Junior races. In true Billy style, he won the Newcomers race on the Monday and was a close second in the Junior on the Wednesday. Then Thursday morning travelled back to the UK and then back to Afghanistan to finish his tour.

2015 it was back to the MGP, not out of the back of a van this time but sponsored by the Martin Bullock team. Two bikes to compete in the Junior and Senior races. A crash at Glen Helen on the Monday evening left him battered and bruised and down to one bike, but again in Billy style he won the Junior on the Wednesday but on the Friday in the Senior race a mechanical issue denied him a finish. But he did get into The Tommy Club with a lap of 121 mph.

Fast forward six months Billy turned 25, he was lined up with two new bikes and some sponsorship to take on the TT. His dream was coming true, but tragically after being offered start money to compete in the Bob Smith Spring Cup at Olivers Mount in Scarborough, he was involved in a crash that would end his life and dream.

He had always said from being ten years old that “his organs were no good to him when he’s dead, make sure if it happens, I want to donate them” so we carried out his wishes. From this a young man was able to enjoy life, football and cycling with his young children.”

Dave & Sue Redmayne