From Para to Dakar: Overcoming Paralysis and Conquering the Dakar Rally
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-10-08 05:52:27
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Joey Evans
- ISBN：0620757515
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
‘I’ve realised that when things are really tough and there seems no hope for the future， it’s sometimes just Chapter One of a really cool story， and the ending is entirely up to you。’
Joey Evans has always loved bikes， from his first second-hand Raleigh Strika at the age of six to the powerful off-road machines that became his passion later on in his life。 His dream was one day to ride the most gruelling off-road race in the world， the 9000km Dakar Rally。
In 2007 his dream was shattered when he broke his back in a racing accident。 His spinal cord was crushed， leaving him paralysed from just below his chest。 Doctors gave him a 10 per cent chance of ever walking again。
Many would have given up and become resigned to life in a wheelchair， but not Joey Evans。 Not only would he get back on his feet and walk， but he would also keep his Dakar dream alive。 It was a long and painful road to recovery， involving years of intensive rehabilitation and training， but he had the love and support of both family and friends and an incredible amount of determination。
Joey shares the many challenges he and his family faced， relating the setbacks， as well as successes， along the way to the Dakar start line。 But the start line was only the first goa。 His sights were set on reaching the finish line， which he did in 2017， the only South African to do so。
From Para to Dakar is so much more than the story of one man reaching the Dakar finish line。 It is a story of friendship and respect， compassion and kindness。 It is about defying the odds to reach a dream， it is about grit， endurance and raw courage， and it is inspiring in its true heroism。
Reviews
Parsnip
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An inspiring and enjoyable read。 Tighter editing would have made for a 5 star book。
Kari Pope
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I had the pleasure of meeting Joey and Meredith earlier this year and they are exactly how they appear in this book - salt of the earth people， unbelievably strong and resilient with fantastic sense of humor。I’m not into adventure riding and frankly knew nothing about it。 I was just fascinated by the bits and pieces of the story that I received in person and had to know more。 Despite my lack of knowledge of the sport， I was gripped from the start。 Joey takes you on his journey as if you are alon I had the pleasure of meeting Joey and Meredith earlier this year and they are exactly how they appear in this book - salt of the earth people， unbelievably strong and resilient with fantastic sense of humor。I’m not into adventure riding and frankly knew nothing about it。 I was just fascinated by the bits and pieces of the story that I received in person and had to know more。 Despite my lack of knowledge of the sport， I was gripped from the start。 Joey takes you on his journey as if you are alongside with him through all the ups and downs。 He has more grit than anyone I know and is a true inspiration。 。。。more
Aneesh
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Even by normal Dakar standards， Joey's story is totally crazy！ What a huge inspiration to anyone！ Top bloke and great story！ Even by normal Dakar standards， Joey's story is totally crazy！ What a huge inspiration to anyone！ Top bloke and great story！ 。。。more
Steve barker
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Joey Evans。。。。。What a Man。 Super Human ！！！！A story of human endeavour to the max， all documented and true。 A must read for anyone who thinks they can do something challenging， read this and if you can do 1% of what Joey has done with his life since his injury， then you will be a better person for it。 Truly inspirational。
Susie N。 Seifert
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A truly amazing story filled whit action， family love， and fighting spirit beyond the limits。 Loved it！
John Penton
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Never Quit！Great Book！ Never quit！ Death before dnf was almost a reality。 This is a story of a real life with so many hardships that have made it possible for so many triumphs。
Hannah
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This book is motivating。 The hardships faced by this man are enough to lead most people into depression and a life of decreased quality and enjoyment。 This man’s resilience in the face of what life throws at him is an inspiration to live life consciously and to make your goals work， finding a way around the problems you face along the way。This book also provides a well written view of dirt biking and it’s wonders。
Surajit
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Wow！ Speechless！ What a story！
Marion Roux
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Facts about the Dakar rally - started in 1986 and went from Paris， across Northern Africa， through the Sahara Desert to Dakar， Senegal。 Over 21 years， the starts were changed to Portugal。 Spain and Senegal。 The ends stages were also changed to Egypt， South Africa and Paris。 The rally totalled 10，000 kms。In 2008 the rally was cancelled due to 4 French citizens being murdered in Mauritania and threats from Al-Queda organisations。In 2009 the race moved to South America -through Argentina， over the Facts about the Dakar rally - started in 1986 and went from Paris， across Northern Africa， through the Sahara Desert to Dakar， Senegal。 Over 21 years， the starts were changed to Portugal。 Spain and Senegal。 The ends stages were also changed to Egypt， South Africa and Paris。 The rally totalled 10，000 kms。In 2008 the rally was cancelled due to 4 French citizens being murdered in Mauritania and threats from Al-Queda organisations。In 2009 the race moved to South America -through Argentina， over the Andes， to Chile and back across the continent to Buenos Aires， Argentina。 Route changes over the years included Peru， Paraguay， Bolivia （Atacama Desert） and the arid wastelands of Argentina。About 70 deaths， both spectators and competitors。Entrance fee in 2017 was about R240，000 alone - extras were the flights to and fro， accommodation before and after the race， a team truck for spares and mechanic， mechanics entrance fee， new tyres and mousses etc。 In total， cost for 2 week race was in the region of R1，1 million。 In 2007 Joey Evans， a South African from Johannesberg and a keen motorcyclist， broke his back in an accident right at the start of a race。 Vertebraes T8 and T9 were broken and the spinal cord had been severely crushed。Three and a half year later， with therapy and through sheer determination and grit he learnt to wobbly-walk and he got onto a bike again。 He then fully realised how much physical ability and strength he had lost。 Undeterred and even more determined he worked hard to realise his dream of participating as a competitor in the gruelling Dakar rally。 He knew it would not be easy， but he believed it was possible。 In the first lot of races after his accident， he realised that he was not racing other bikers， but rather himself and his level of recovery。The book recounts all these trials and tribulations as well as the huge efforts to raise the necessary funds to participate in races to qualify for the Dakar and the costs of the Dakar itself。 He reluctantly even started broadcasting his personal story - "had to put it all out there" as he says。The support from so very many people and especially his wife is so heart-warming。And to think he achieved his dream is quite astounding。 。。。more
Nadine
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Inspirational
Tadhg Maccarthy
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From my perspective as an average dirt biker， well below average， ok well below average 。。。It's rare to find a dirt biker who can write。Even rarer to find an elite dirt biker who can write。So to just get a perspective of what it's really like to ride the Dakar rally， this book is worth it alone for the in-depth detail。 An added bonus is a view into dirt biking in Southern Africa。Now add the astonishing detail of doing this when recovering from an horrendous injury and temporary paraplegia， it ju From my perspective as an average dirt biker， well below average， ok well below average 。。。It's rare to find a dirt biker who can write。Even rarer to find an elite dirt biker who can write。So to just get a perspective of what it's really like to ride the Dakar rally， this book is worth it alone for the in-depth detail。 An added bonus is a view into dirt biking in Southern Africa。Now add the astonishing detail of doing this when recovering from an horrendous injury and temporary paraplegia， it just takes it to a whole another level。A truly amazing story of an indomitable human spirit。 Hat tips to you sir。 。。。more
Leigh
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This book is raw emotion from page one to the end！What I found incredibly motivational was how Joey clearly states which mistakes he made， and goes on to tell us how he got up and just did it better！ It is so human and real and inspiring。 His can-do spirit inspires on every page。 What a journey！
Dillon Jearey
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