LEOK FUNDRAISER A ROARING SUCCESS

Posted by Ray | 13 October 2009 | Comment

Tanel Leok can look a bit forbidding, of that there is no doubt. The Estonian strongman is quiet and introverted, and on a race weekend he is a picture of serious concentration. To the casual observer he may seem curt and it may appear that the softest part his personality is the enamel on his teeth, but appearances sometimes beg to deceive. Those that know him well, can attest to the fact that Tanel’s lion heart is 99,9% pure gold, and that his outward veneer is more linked to shyness than anything else. With this is in mind, it is not surprising that the Estonian Express hatched a very unusual plan to commemorate the first anniversary of his wedding to Karoliina.

As one of the world’s top exponents inn motocross racing, Tanel has been on the receiving side of some of the sport’s bounty over the years. This time, though, he was going to do something great and grand to give something back to sportsmen less fortunate than himself. Together with his buddy Martin Arumae, a compact steering committee was formed, and the “Tanel Leok and friends” charity event took shape. The idea was to present a day of racing fun, in an unusual format, and the objective was to raise funds for young sports people who have been disabled in the pursuit of their passion. Tanel has first hand knowledge of the impact that such a debilitating injury can have on a sportsman and his family. His uncle Avo was paralyzed in a racing accident a few years ago, but his indomitable spirit kept him going, and to this day Avo is still involved in the sport that he loves, training some of the Baltic’s finest up and coming riders.

Mindful of his lofty goals, Tanel put his natural recitence aside and canvassed his fellow world championship riders like a seasoned politician to collect a treasure trove of memorabilia, including racing shirts, helmets, and books. With this in hand, the event took shape in a hurry, and so it came to pass that on 11 October 2009, near the Estonian capital Tallinn, a goodly crowd assembled to form part of this historic event. The Northern winter had already bared its teeth, and there was a decided nip in the air, but the collective teeth chattering only added more rhythm to the event.

The cream of Estonia’s riders, along with Latvian Matiss Karro, did their all to entertain the crowd. The racing was fun and interesting, for sure, but on this day, the focus was elsewhere. For once, the racers focused on something beyond their passion for the sport, and the fans responded in kind. When the last car had left the parking lot and the takings were tallied up, the event had raised more then EUR13 000 for its worthy cause.

The Estonian Express watched over all of this, with that enigmatic half smile he exhibits when he is truly happy. He felt the need to give something back, and his fellow countrymen responded in no uncertain fashion. Thus ended arguably one of the most memorable wedding anniversaries in recent memory.

And Mrs Leok?? She received a belated call to enquire what he wish for an anniversary present would be. Hubby’s efforts had been enough reward for her, however, and a nationally televised event sure beats forgetting about your wedding anniversary.

Tags: helmet, herring, injury, karro, leok, may, motocross, park, presenter, training