MP to race a Kawaski Superbike!

South Thanet MP, Stephen Ladyman, will ride a 200bhp Kawasaki Superbike in this year's Thundersprint Motorcycle Sprint on May 10th.

Stephen is raising money for CALM, a charity that helps young men in crisis.

Stephen Ladyman said:

"Suicide is now one of the biggest killers of young men and CALM does a vital job getting across its message that 'being silent is not being strong' and providing support for young men who contact them. I'm delighted that Thundersprint and Kawasaki are backing me and helping me raise money for them."

Stephen will be riding a 200bhp Kawasaki MSS Colchester - the bike ridden by the Kawaski race team in last year's superbike races. He will be joining the official Kawasaki race team for the day.

Thundersprint is one of the biggest spectator events in Europe. It is a motorcycle sprint race held in Northwich, Cheshire. This year it is on Sunday May 10th.

"My first objective will be holding on and finishing the event in one piece while getting as many people as possible to sponsor me and support CALM. Frankly, as someone who loves motorbikes, I'll also be having a great time."

"I hope lots of people and companies are prepared to help. Donations can be sent to me at the House of Commons or, better still, by logging onto my special JustGiving web site."

The web site for donations is: www.justgiving.com/stephen-at-thundersprint

"Suicide struck my own family out of the blue when my step-son Karl took his own life last year. We miss him terribly but if CALM can save just one family from the heartbreak we have suffered then we need to back them as much as we can."

If anyone wants to know more about CALM and especially if feeling depressed, suicidal or in need of support then they should check the CALM website at www.thecalmzone.net or their help line on 0800 58 58 58 5pm to midnight Saturday to Tuesday.

Note to editors:

Photographs of Stephen preparing for the event can be made available from Friday 1st May onwards and photographs of him competing in the event from the 10th onwards.